What Is Pre-Gelatinization?

Pre-gelatinization is a physical modification of starches by heating, rapidly dehydrating, and mechanical shearing. Pre-gelatinized starch, also known as α-starch, has a special structure. During processing, water molecules in starch granules are rapidly removed at high temperatures, and the product has the characteristics of hydrogen bond breakage, structural porosity, and no obvious crystallization.

Fig.1 Pre-gelatinization of starch and applications. (Ma, et al., 2022)

Advantages of Per-Gelatinized Starch

The crystal structure of starch granules is destroyed due to the breakage of the hydrogen bonds in starch molecules, which makes the pre-gelatinized starch easily soluble in water, degraded by amylase, and digested and absorbed by the human body. In addition, it has the advantages of good stability in cold water, water retain ability, and adhesion properties. Based on these characteristics, pre-gelatinized starch is widely added in fast foods, and is used as an adhesive in the feed and foundry industries, an excipient in the pharmaceutical industry, and a raw material for talcum powder in the cosmetic industry.

Pre-gelatinization Service

CD BioGlyco provides customers with professional and customized pre-gelatinized starch production services as well as products with guaranteed quality. The general production process of pre-gelatinized starch at CD BioGlyco is as follows:

Fig.2 Schematic diagram of the pre-gelatinized starch production process. (Lee & Yoo, 2023)

We have different kinds of starch pre-gelatinization methods and technologies.

Fig.3 Customized starch pre-gelatinization service. (CD BioGlyco)

• Rolling (drum) drying: A traditional method to prepare pre-gelatinized starch by pouring the starch slurry onto a hot roller (drum) and then scraping off the cooked flake with a knife. The double roller and the single roller are two hot roller types. The method has characteristics of simple operation, continuous production, low energy consumption, stable quality of products, and a wide range of adaptation.
• Spray drying: Starch slurry is injected in an enclosed chamber through an atomization aperture to form a fine spray, and steam is injected into the atomized starch spray to gelatinize the starch. The method is characterized by the absence of a separate crushing process.
• Solvent-based processing: Sodium bicarbonate and sodium hydroxide can reduce the degree of starch polymerization, and make starch easier to gelatinize. Glycerol monostearate can integrate with the spiral structure of amylose, inhibit the aging of starch, and facilitate starch gelatinization.
• Extrusion: A cost-effective modification method that can achieve high productivity. The method damages starch granules more thoroughly than Rolling (drum) drying, so the viscosity of the product is lower.

Applications

• Modified starch mass production without chemical agents and residues
• Raw materials of food/feed/drug/cosmetics
• Starch byproduct development

Highlights

• Continuous and large-scale production methods
• Generating no chemical wastes
• Tailored starch pre-gelatinization process

CD BioGlyco is your go-to destination for modified starch production. Please talk with our experts to get high-quality modified starch. We wholeheartedly explore advanced processes for Modified Starch Manufacture, including various Physical, Chemical, Enzymatic, and Genetical Modification. If you are interested in our services, please contact us immediately for more information.

• Annealing (ANN)
• Heat-Moisture Treatment (HMT)
• Cold Plasma Treatment
• Non-Thermal Physical Modification