PRODUCTION OF LOW SUBSTITUTED CASSAVA STARCH ACETATES AND CITRATES

Starch acetates and citrates were prepared by treating starch with sodium hydroxide at room temperature with and without 1% concentrated sulphuric acid (per dry weight of starch) as catalyst. Starch acetates were obtained by varying the reaction time (2h, 4h, 6h and 8h) while starch citrates were obtained using citric acid monohydrate concentrations of 5, 10, 15 and 20% (per dry weight of starch). The yields of acetylated starches were greater than those of the starch citrates. Use of catalyst significantly increased the rate and extent of acetylation. Also there were progressive increases in the acetyl values of the catalysed reaction with time. Citrate substitution in catalysed and uncatalysed reactions were not significantly different at citric acid concentrations higher than 10%.