Process for production of high solids starch dispersion using multi-stage degradation
View Patent ↗A process for preparing a starch dispersion may include combining a feed starch and an aqueous liquid to form a starch slurry. The starch slurry may be subjected to a first degradation treatment to form a first mixture. A temperature of the starch slurry during the first degradation treatment may be less than a gelation temperature. The first mixture may be heated to a temperature between the gelation temperature and a solubilization temperature. The heated first mixture may be subjected to a second degradation treatment to form a second mixture. The second mixture may be sheared to form the starch dispersion.
1. A process for preparing a starch dispersion comprising:
combining a feed starch and an aqueous liquid to form a starch slurry;
subjecting the starch slurry to a first degradation treatment to form a first mixture, wherein a temperature of the starch slurry during the first degradation treatment is less than a gelation temperature;
heating the first mixture to a temperature between the gelation temperature and a solubilization temperature;
subjecting the heated first mixture to a second degradation treatment to form a second mixture; and
shearing the second mixture to form the starch dispersion.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein each of subjecting the starch slurry to the first degradation treatment and subjecting the heated first mixture to the second degradation treatment comprises reducing a molecular weight of soluble starch from a first molecular weight to a second molecular weight that is less than the first molecular weight.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first degradation treatment and the second degradation treatment are independently selected from the group consisting of addition of a degradation agent, thermal degradation, mechanical degradation, and combinations thereof.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one of subjecting the starch slurry to the first degradation treatment or subjecting the heated first mixture to the second degradation treatment comprises adding a degradation agent to the respective starch slurry or heated first mixture.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein subjecting the starch slurry to the first degradation treatment comprises adding a first quantity of a degradation agent to the starch slurry and subjecting the heated first mixture to the second degradation treatment comprises adding a second quantity of the degradation agent to the heated first mixture.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the degradation agent is selected from the group consisting of an acid, a base, an oxidizing agent, an enzyme, a microorganism, and combinations thereof.
7. The process of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the temperature of the second mixture during shearing between the gelation temperature and the solubilization temperature.
8. The process of claim 1 , further comprising combining the feed starch and the aqueous liquid with a high shear mixer.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein heating the first mixture comprises processing the first mixture with a high shear mixer.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein heating the first mixture comprises increasing the temperature of the first mixture by no more than 0.5° C./min from a first temperature that is below the gelation temperature to a second temperature that is between the gelation temperature and the solubilization temperature.