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Review
. 2021 Nov 15;26(22):6880.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26226880.

Development of Starch-Based Materials Using Current Modification Techniques and Their Applications: A Review

Sumedha M Amaraweera  1 , Chamila Gunathilake  2   3 , Oneesha H P Gunawardene  2 , Nimasha M L Fernando  1 , Drashana B Wanninayaka  2 , Rohan S Dassanayake  4 , Suranga M Rajapaksha  5 , Asanga Manamperi  6 , Chakrawarthige A N Fernando  3 , Asela K Kulatunga  1 , Aruna Manipura  2
Affiliations
Review

Development of Starch-Based Materials Using Current Modification Techniques and Their Applications: A Review

Sumedha M Amaraweera et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Starch is one of the most common biodegradable polymers found in nature, and it is widely utilized in the food and beverage, bioplastic industry, paper industry, textile, and biofuel industries. Starch has received significant attention due to its environmental benignity, easy fabrication, relative abundance, non-toxicity, and biodegradability. However, native starch cannot be directly used due to its poor thermo-mechanical properties and higher water absorptivity. Therefore, native starch needs to be modified before its use. Major starch modification techniques include genetic, enzymatic, physical, and chemical. Among those, chemical modification techniques are widely employed in industries. This review presents comprehensive coverage of chemical starch modification techniques and genetic, enzymatic, and physical methods developed over the past few years. In addition, the current applications of chemically modified starch in the fields of packaging, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, superabsorbent and wastewater treatment have also been discussed.

Keywords: biodegradable polymer; chemical methods; starch; starch modification.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Global production capacity of different materials in 2019 (Adapted from European bioplastic data—2019 [6]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the (a) Starch granules; (b) Cross section of the starch granule; (c) Representation of the cross section of the starch granules; (d) Double helix structure of amylopectin; (e) Structure of amylose; (f) Single helix structure of amylose; (g) Structure of amylopectin; (h) Top view of the double helix clusters: (i) A type, (j) B type, and (k) Types of amylopectin chains.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Modified starch market share by the application (Reproduced from: Modified starch market size, by product 2014–2025 (USD billion) Grand View Research, Inc. [27]).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Enzymatic hydrolysis of starch.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The reaction mechanisms of different chemical modification processes.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Schematic of crosslinked starch.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Chemical structures of crosslinking agents: (a) Citric acid and (b) epichlorohydrin.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Pb2+ adsorption mechanism of modified cassava starch. Reprinted with permission from reference [134], Copyright 2021 MDPI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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