This application provides a method of using a highly clarified and clean lignin, derived from a specific biorefinery process to make a starch foam and products of the same. The lignin can be used as a low cost filler substitute for starch and other substrates that are currently employed in foam applications. The lignin has the right mechanical, physical, thermoplastic and barrier properties to enable easy handling and to impart improved properties such as UV resistance, water resistance and other physical parameters to starch foams.

This application provides a method of using a highly clarified and clean lignin, derived from a specific biorefinery process to make a starch foam and products of the same. The lignin can be used as a low cost filler substitute for starch and other substrates that are currently employed in foam applications. The lignin has the right mechanical, physical, thermoplastic and barrier properties to enable easy handling and to impart improved properties such as UV resistance, water resistance and other physical parameters to starch foams.

System for and method of producing a pure starch slurry and alcohol by using combined corn wet and dry milling processes. A simple and lower cost process to obtain starch inside floury endosperm is provided. The starch can be highly purified to meet green technology process needs. The remaining starch inside the corn kernels can be used as feedstock for alcohol production and to produce valuable co-products such as oil and various animal feeds.

System for and method of producing a pure starch slurry and alcohol by using combined corn wet and dry milling processes. A simple and lower cost process to obtain starch inside floury endosperm is provided. The starch can be highly purified to meet green technology process needs. The remaining starch inside the corn kernels can be used as feedstock for alcohol production and to produce valuable co-products such as oil and various animal feeds.

In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides for a process for preparing a dispersion of starch particles in an aqueous liquid. In one or more embodiments, the process includes introducing a feed starch and the aqueous liquid into a rotor stator mixer, maintaining the feed starch and the aqueous liquid in the rotor stator mixer at a temperature ranging from a gelation temperature to less than a solubilization temperature, and shearing the feed starch into starch particles with the rotor stator mixer to form the dispersion of starch particles in the aqueous liquid. In one or more embodiments, the starch particles produced by this process have an average particle size diameter of no larger than 2 micrometers and the dispersion has 20 to 65 weight percent of the starch particles based on a total weight of the dispersion.

In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides for a process for preparing a dispersion of starch particles in an aqueous liquid. In one or more embodiments, the process includes introducing a feed starch and the aqueous liquid into a rotor stator mixer, maintaining the feed starch and the aqueous liquid in the rotor stator mixer at a temperature ranging from a gelation temperature to less than a solubilization temperature, and shearing the feed starch into starch particles with the rotor stator mixer to form the dispersion of starch particles in the aqueous liquid. In one or more embodiments, the starch particles produced by this process have an average particle size diameter of no larger than 2 micrometers and the dispersion has 20 to 65 weight percent of the starch particles based on a total weight of the dispersion.

A method for producing starch granules suitable as an excipient for an orally disintegrating tablet. Fluidized bed granulation is performed by spraying a starch paste in small amounts while a -starch is being fluidized using an air-fluidized bed. Subsequently, fluidized bed drying is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the gelatinization temperature of the -starch. This yields starch granules having a high degree of gelatinization in comparison with the amount of -starch adhered to the -starch by the spraying of the starch paste. These starch granules alone impart satisfactory oral disintegratability and breaking strength to the tablet. Accordingly, when used as an excipient during tableting of orally disintegrating tablets, other auxiliary excipients such as saccharides or crystalline cellulose need not be added.

A method for producing starch granules suitable as an excipient for an orally disintegrating tablet. Fluidized bed granulation is performed by spraying a starch paste in small amounts while a -starch is being fluidized using an air-fluidized bed. Subsequently, fluidized bed drying is performed at a temperature equal to or higher than the gelatinization temperature of the -starch. This yields starch granules having a high degree of gelatinization in comparison with the amount of -starch adhered to the -starch by the spraying of the starch paste. These starch granules alone impart satisfactory oral disintegratability and breaking strength to the tablet. Accordingly, when used as an excipient during tableting of orally disintegrating tablets, other auxiliary excipients such as saccharides or crystalline cellulose need not be added.

The invention relates to a method for producing a heat-modified starch, comprising the steps consisting in: (i) preparing a starch milk having a solids content of between 30 and 40%, preferably between 35 and 37% by weight, (ii) adding a solution of an alkaline agent at a weight concentration of between 25 and 35%, preferably of 30%, so as to obtain a conductivity on the milk of between 4 and 7 mS/cm, (iii) ensuring a contact time of between 0.5 and 2 hours, (iv) filtering and drying the starch milk such that the conductivity of the dried starch resuspended at 20% by weight of solids is between 0.7 and 2.5 mS/cm, (v) heating said dried starch so as to bring it to a temperature of more than 180 C. for a residence time of between 10 and 40 minutes, even more preferentially between 15 and 35 minutes.

The invention relates to a method for producing a heat-modified starch, comprising the steps consisting in: (i) preparing a starch milk having a solids content of between 30 and 40%, preferably between 35 and 37% by weight, (ii) adding a solution of an alkaline agent at a weight concentration of between 25 and 35%, preferably of 30%, so as to obtain a conductivity on the milk of between 4 and 7 mS/cm, (iii) ensuring a contact time of between 0.5 and 2 hours, (iv) filtering and drying the starch milk such that the conductivity of the dried starch resuspended at 20% by weight of solids is between 0.7 and 2.5 mS/cm, (v) heating said dried starch so as to bring it to a temperature of more than 180 C. for a residence time of between 10 and 40 minutes, even more preferentially between 15 and 35 minutes.