New starch methodology to measure both soluble and insoluble starch

Authors: COLE, MARSHA - Orise Fellow; Eggleston, Gillian; Triplett, Alexa

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2017
Publication Date: 8/28/2017
Citation: Cole, M., Eggleston, G., Triplett, A. 2017. New starch methodology to measure both soluble and insoluble starch. In: Proceedings for the Advances in Sugar Crop Processing and Conversion Conference, March 15-16, 2016. New Orleans, Louisiana. p. 149-178.

Interpretive Summary: Starch is a natural sugarcane juice impurity that greatly influences raw sugar quality and affects factory and refinery processing. Since the advent of the USDA Starch Research method, the mechanisms in which starch concentration and physical form affects sugar crop processing, conversion, and end-goals is now better understood. Examples of how the USDA Starch Research method have been used in the sugarcane industry were discussed. General topics regarding starch solubilization across factory and refinery streams include its role in (i) viscosity problems, (ii) insoluble starch persistence across processing streams (insoluble starch in raw and refined sugars and consequent starch penalty), (iii) unsuitable raw sugar production, (iv) calcium carbonate fines (<5µm), and (v) clogging membrane press filters. This new knowledge that more insoluble starch is present across the sugarcane factory and refinery than previously considered has multiple, serious processing implications. Many of these starch-associated problems have not been previously detected due to the limitations of the existing starch measurement methods and their inability to measure insoluble starch. With the development of the USDA Starch Research method, current industrial methods can now be comprehensively evaluated. The objective of this investigation was to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each industrial starch method, their accuracy and precision in measuring starch concentrations in simulated and factory raw sugars, and determine whether valid correlations between methods could be established for the conversion of results. Also, the research and development of a new USDA Factory Method, based on the USDA Starch Research method, is introduced.

Technical Abstract: Starch is a natural sugarcane juice impurity that greatly influences raw sugar quality and affects factory and refinery processing. Since the advent of the USDA Starch Research method, the mechanisms in which starch concentration and physical form affects sugar crop processing, conversion, and end-goals is now better understood. Examples of how the USDA Starch Research method have been used in the sugarcane industry were discussed. General topics regarding starch solubilization across factory and refinery streams include its role in (i) viscosity problems, (ii) insoluble starch persistence across processing streams (insoluble starch in raw and refined sugars and consequent starch penalty), (iii) unsuitable raw sugar production, (iv) calcium carbonate fines (<5µm), and (v) clogging membrane press filters. This new knowledge that more insoluble starch is present across the sugarcane factory and refinery than previously considered has multiple, serious processing implications. Many of these starch-associated problems have not been previously detected due to the limitations of the existing starch measurement methods and their inability to measure insoluble starch. With the development of the USDA Starch Research method, current industrial methods can now be comprehensively evaluated. The objective of this investigation was to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each industrial starch method, their accuracy and precision in measuring starch concentrations in simulated and factory raw sugars, and determine whether valid correlations between methods could be established for the conversion of results. Also, the research and development of a new USDA Factory Method, based on the USDA Starch Research method, is introduced.