13.8 Applications of Aquatic-Sourced Starch
305
with new properties which leads to improved quality or a new variety of products.
Therefore, aquatic starch combined with terrestrial-sourced starch has potential for
novel formulations for food applications. With an ever-increasing global population
and decreasing arable land for food cultivation, augmenting the already existing,
mostly land-based starch sources with aquatic-derived starch would be a significant
contribution to global food security. Some studies have explored the production of
edible starch from algae. When not acting as a direct food for human consumption,
aquatic-sourced starch could also be used as a source of animal feed (Prabhu et al.
2019; Smith et al. 2010) as texture enhancers or stabilizers for animal food. As discussed in other chapters in this book, some aquatic-sourced biopolymers which do
not meet the organoleptic or purity requirements to be used for direct human consumption are approved for the use for use in pet food. The feed for pets which are
not consumed as food is different for those of animal feed which will eventually be
consumed by humans.
13.8.5 Textile and Paper Industry
In the textile industry, starch is applied as a thickener in aiding the textile printing
process, and it is also used in fabric treatment to improve finish (Teli et al. 2009).
These applications are attributed to the coating property of starch and its ability to
adhere to dyes. Application of starch from aquatic resource is particularly attractive
toward developing a textile industry which integrates an aquatic-based water remediation system, whereby the aquatic source of starch-based raw material could also
be used in the wastewater treatment. This allows the source of the raw material to
also be used to clean the effluent from the industrial process.
Furthermore, the use of non-edible aquatic-sourced starch would make more edible starch from other sources such as corn, cassava and potato more available for
food-based applications. This is of particular significance as the world faces the risk
of global food shortage, and it becomes more important to limit the use of food crops
for non-food applications.
Similarly, the papermaking is a non-food application of starch. Papermaking
makes use of starch as a coating binder, to aid ink retention and in finishing (Maurer 2009). In such application, starch is most commonly used in the modified form.
Starch for papermaking can be sourced from extraction from high yielding aquatic
plants such as duckweed and as a by-product from the extraction of other aquatic
biopolymers such as carrageenan.
13.8.6 Pharmaceutics
In the pharmaceutical industry, starch is used as a thickening and bulking agent
in syrups, tablets and capsules. It protects the active ingredient from the first-pass
305
with new properties which leads to improved quality or a new variety of products.
Therefore, aquatic starch combined with terrestrial-sourced starch has potential for
novel formulations for food applications. With an ever-increasing global population
and decreasing arable land for food cultivation, augmenting the already existing,
mostly land-based starch sources with aquatic-derived starch would be a significant
contribution to global food security. Some studies have explored the production of
edible starch from algae. When not acting as a direct food for human consumption,
aquatic-sourced starch could also be used as a source of animal feed (Prabhu et al.
2019; Smith et al. 2010) as texture enhancers or stabilizers for animal food. As discussed in other chapters in this book, some aquatic-sourced biopolymers which do
not meet the organoleptic or purity requirements to be used for direct human consumption are approved for the use for use in pet food. The feed for pets which are
not consumed as food is different for those of animal feed which will eventually be
consumed by humans.
13.8.5 Textile and Paper Industry
In the textile industry, starch is applied as a thickener in aiding the textile printing
process, and it is also used in fabric treatment to improve finish (Teli et al. 2009).
These applications are attributed to the coating property of starch and its ability to
adhere to dyes. Application of starch from aquatic resource is particularly attractive
toward developing a textile industry which integrates an aquatic-based water remediation system, whereby the aquatic source of starch-based raw material could also
be used in the wastewater treatment. This allows the source of the raw material to
also be used to clean the effluent from the industrial process.
Furthermore, the use of non-edible aquatic-sourced starch would make more edible starch from other sources such as corn, cassava and potato more available for
food-based applications. This is of particular significance as the world faces the risk
of global food shortage, and it becomes more important to limit the use of food crops
for non-food applications.
Similarly, the papermaking is a non-food application of starch. Papermaking
makes use of starch as a coating binder, to aid ink retention and in finishing (Maurer 2009). In such application, starch is most commonly used in the modified form.
Starch for papermaking can be sourced from extraction from high yielding aquatic
plants such as duckweed and as a by-product from the extraction of other aquatic
biopolymers such as carrageenan.
13.8.6 Pharmaceutics
In the pharmaceutical industry, starch is used as a thickening and bulking agent
in syrups, tablets and capsules. It protects the active ingredient from the first-pass