Thermally Inhibited Starch Production via Turbo-Reactor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing thermally modified starch are either energy-intensive, time-consuming, or involve the use of toxic organic solvents, making them unsuitable for industrial-scale continuous processes while also failing to meet health and safety standards for food applications.
Innovation Solution
A continuous process involving mixing starch with an alkaline water solution, followed by drying and feeding it into a turbo-reactor where it is heated and centrifuged at high temperatures to produce thermally inhibited starch, eliminating the need for organic solvents and reducing processing time and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If starch is heated at high temperature for thermal modification, then the starch properties are improved for food applications, but the processing time becomes very long (1-20 hours)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the moisture content of starch to a specific range (10-30% w/w) before thermal treatment, and by controlling the heating temperature (100-200°C) and time (5-60 minutes). This optimization of parameters achieves thermal modification with significantly reduced processing time compared to conventional methods while maintaining starch stability and quality.
2Reliability
If organic solvents are used in thermal modification process, then the starch can be modified effectively, but toxic residues remain in the final product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes harmful organic solvents from the thermal modification process entirely. Instead, it uses water or water vapor as the heating medium, which eliminates toxic residue contamination while maintaining effective thermal modification of starch. This extraction of harmful substances resolves the contradiction between modification effectiveness and product safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a safe, inert environment by using water or water vapor atmosphere during thermal treatment instead of organic solvents. This inert environment prevents formation of toxic residues while still allowing effective thermal modification, thus resolving the contradiction between modification effectiveness and absence of harmful factors.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional drying methods are used before thermal treatment, then starch moisture is reduced, but the process becomes energy-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drying step with the thermal treatment step into a single integrated process. By controlling the moisture content to an optimal range (10-30% w/w) before heating and performing thermal treatment at controlled temperature and time, the process achieves both moisture reduction and thermal modification simultaneously, significantly reducing energy consumption and processing time compared to separate drying and treatment steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process efficiently produces thermally inhibited starch suitable for use in the food industry as an emulsifier or thickening agent, with improved stability and safety, achieving enhanced properties without the use of toxic solvents and reducing production time and costs.
Implementation Method 1
the rotor being rotated at a speed greater than or equal to 800 rpm, so that said dried powder is continuously centrifuged and advanced inside said turbo-reactor through the action of said rotor
Implementation Method 2
a heating jacket for bringing the temperature of said tubular body to a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 3
feeding a continuous flow of said wet powder into a continuous dryer together with a continuous flow of hot air
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Process for the production of thermally modified starch comprising the steps of mixing starch in powder form having a specific moisture content with an alkaline water solution to obtain a wet powder; feeding a continuous flow of said wet powder into a continuous dryer together with a continuous flow of hot air; discharging a continuous flow of dried powder from said continuous drier; supplying said continuous flow of said dried powder into a turbo-reactor, in which the inner wall of said turbo-reactor is maintained at a specific temperature; converting said dried powder into a thermally inhibited starch; and discharging said thermally inhibited starch from said turbo- reactor; it is also disclosed a thermally inhibited starch obtained from the aforementioned process with enhanced physical chemical properties.