Starch esterification by reactive extrusion

The objectives of this study were to synthesize starch-fatty acid esters via a reactive extrusion process and to determine the effects of level and chain length of the anhydrides used on the physical properties of the extrudates. Starch esters were synthesized by extruding 70% amylose starch with fatty acid anhydrides and sodium hydroxide (catalyst) in a single screw extruder. Acetic, propionic, heptanoic, and palmitic anhydrides were used at 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 mol levels to obtain different degrees of substitution (DS) in the starch. Physical properties of the extrudates such as unit and solid density, specific mechanical energy, water absorption, and water solubility indices as well as molecular degradation and DS of the starch were measured. DS increased as the level of anhydride increased. Lower molecular weights and higher levels of anhydride resulted in the greatest reduction in starch molecular weight.