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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183273
Title: NATIVE OR RAW STARCH DIGESTION

Author
item Robertson, George
item Wong, Dominic
item Lee, Charles
item Wagschal, Kurt
item Smith, Michael
item Orts, William

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2005
Publication Date: 12/22/2005
Citation: Robertson, G.H., Wong, D., Lee, C.C., Wagschal, K.C., Smith, M.R., Orts, W.J. 2006. Native or raw starch digestion: A Key step in energy efficient biorefining of grain. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54:353-65.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Improved molecular disassembly and depolymerization of grain starch to glucose is key to reducing energy use in the bioconversion of glucose to chemicals, ingredients, and fuels. In fuel ethanol production these biorefining steps use 10- 20% of the energy content of the fuel ethanol. The need to minimize energy use and to raise the net yield of energy can be met by replacing high-temperature, liquid-phase, enzymatic digestion with low temperature, solid-phase, enzymatic digestion. Also called cold hydrolysis, the approach is a step toward a "green" method for the production of fuel ethanol. There has been substantial prior and increased recent interest in this approach that is presented in this first review of the subject. We include incentives, developmental research, fundamental factors of raw starch digestion, and novel approaches in enzymology and processing. The discussion draws on resources found in enzymology, engineering, plant physiology, cereal chemistry, and kinetics.