Effect of spray drying on the properties of amylose-hexadecylammonium chloride inclusion complexes

Authors: Hay, William; Behle, Robert; Fanta, George; Felker, Frederick; Peterson, Steven - Steve; Selling, Gordon

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Polymers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2016
Publication Date: 12/14/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5569304
Citation: Hay, W.T., Behle, R.W., Fanta, G.F., Felker, F.C., Peterson, S.C., Selling, G.W. 2016. Effect of spray drying on the properties of amylose-hexadecylammonium chloride inclusion complexes. Carbohydrate Polymers. 157:1050-1056. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.10.068.

Interpretive Summary: This research demonstrated that a value-adding starch derivative can be produced using industrial scale techniques. Developing technologies utilizing renewable materials to totally or partially replace those materials using petroleum feedstocks is of national importance. It has been shown that a starch derivative (HexAm), which is a combination of corn starch and hexadecylammonium chloride (derived from soybean oil), when added to polymers at levels of up to 60%, such as polyvinyl alcohol (produced form natural gas), provides improved properties. The technique used to isolate HexAM from the water solution where it was made, while suitable for a lab setting, is not commercially viable. A technique called spray drying is a commercially used method for removing water from solutions. We have shown that this technique can be used to isolate HexAM with greater than 95% yield. The HexAM produced is identical to that made on a smaller scale. This research provides confidence to polymer producers interested in using cost effective HexAM to replace a portion of petroleum-based material in their polymers. By using HexAM in petroleum-based products, improved properties will be obtained at a lower cost with a smaller carbon foot print. Corn and soybean producers and processors will benefit from this technology. In addition, traditional polymer producers will be able to provide a higher value product at lower cost, which will ultimately benefit the consumer.

Technical Abstract: Water soluble amylose-hexadecyl ammonium chloride complexes were prepared from high amylose corn starch and hexadecyl ammonium chloride by excess steam jet cooking. Amylose inclusion complexes were spray dried to determine the viability of spray drying as a production method. The variables tested in the spray drying process were the% solids of the amylose-hexadecyl ammonium chloride complex being fed into the spray dryer, feed rate and the spray dryer outlet temperature. The amylose-inclusion complexes remained intact in all spray drying conditions tested as determined by X-ray diffraction. The rheological properties of solutions of the spray dried amylose-complexes remained unchanged when compared with the freeze dried control. Particle density and moisture content decreased with increased outlet temperature while particle size increased. X-ray diffraction and DSC analysis confirmed the formation of type II amylose inclusion complexes. Spray drying is a high throughput, low cost continuous commercial production method, which when coupled with excess steam jet cooking allows for the industrial scale production of cationic amylose-hexadecyl ammonium chloride complexes which may have value as flocculating and filtration enhancing agents and other aspects of paper production.