Methods for the Extraction of Roots, Tubers, Pulses, Pseudocereals, and Other Unconventional Starches Sources: A Review

Abstract New botanical materials are emerging as unconventional sources of starch, increasing their economic value and, therefore, providing a higher starch demand with novel and unique properties for the substitution of traditional starch sources. Overall, starch isolation from roots and tubers is simple and based on breaking vegetal cells to release the starch. Starch extraction from pulses is more complex due to their higher protein and lipid content and smaller starch granules compared to roots and tuber starches. Starch from pseudocereals can be isolated by wet milling. Recently, alternative sources of starch have been proposed, including tree, herbs/shrubs, and fruits; the isolation of starch from these sources involves wet milling procedures in the presence or absence of the chemical solutions. This review summarizes the usual laboratory methods and recent advances in the extraction of starches from roots, tubers, pulses, and pseudocerals. Starch extraction methods from unconventional sources are also described. This review may be useful to guide researchers and technologists from the industry in their choice of better starch extraction methods, presenting the advantages and disadvantages of each method.