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Toward the development of a sustainable utilization strategy for adsorption materials, a starch-based adsorbent starch-chitosan-tannic acid (St-CTS-TA) with a three-dimensional (3D) structure was fabricated in water via electrostatic and hydrogen bonding reactions between St, CTS, and TA without using toxic reducing agents or special instruments. St-CTS-TA demonstrated a high specific surface area of 37 m 2 /g as well as a mesoporous/macroporous distribution ranging from 30 to 80 nm, which enhanced the mass transfer of adsorbate and the exposure of catechol groups in TA. The Langmuir isotherm adsorption model revealed that the highest adsorption capacities of St-CTS-TA for Fe 3+ and Co 2+ were 1678.2 and 944.8 mg/g, respectively. Surprisingly, the specific surface area of St-CTS-TA increased from 37 to 87 and 42 m 2 /g after Fe 3+ and Co 2+ adsorption, respectively, and the resulting St-CTS-TA-Fe and St-CTS-TA-Co could continuously adsorb basic fuchsin (BF) and rhodamine B (RhB). The adsorption capacities of St-CTS-TA-Fe and St-CTS-TA-Co for BF/RhB were found to be 1854.79/401.19 mg/g and 2229.77/537.49 mg/g, respectively, based on the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Food waste occurs frequently worldwide, though hunger and malnutrition issues have received global attention. Short-term spoilage of perishable foods causes a significant proportion of food waste. Developing simple, green, and low-cost strategies to preserve the freshness of perishable foods is important to address this issue and improving food safety. By using strawberries as the model perishable fruit, this study reported a pectin/carboxy methyl starch sodium (PC) based coating using epigallocatechin gallate-loaded eggshell powder (ES@EGCG) as the functional fillers. In comparison to PC coating, the PC-ES@EGCG coating displayed much-enhanced performance, such as enhanced mechanical (2 folds) and barrier (water vapor & oxygen) properties. This composite coating reduced the weight loss of strawberries from over 60% to around 30% after 7-day storage. Coated strawberries exhibit better freshness retention, which achieves the purpose of preserving strawberries during storage. This study provided a cost-effective and eco-friendly coating strategy for reducing food waste., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the biodegradation behaviour of starch/nanocellulose/black tea extract (SNBTE) films in a 30-day soil burial test. The SNBTE films were prepared by mixing commercial starch, nanocellulose (2, 4, and 6%), and an aqueous solution of black tea extract by a simple mixing and casting process. The chemical and morphological properties of the SNBTE films before and after biodegradation were characterized using the following analytical techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The changes in soil composition, namely pH, electrical conductivity (EC), moisture content, water holding capacity (WHC), soil respiration, total nitrogen, weight mean diameter (MDW), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), as a result of the biodegradation process, were also estimated. The results showed that the films exhibited considerable biodegradability (35-67%) within 30 days while increasing soil nutrients. The addition of black tea extract reduced the biodegradation rate due to its polyphenol content, which likely resulted in a reduction in microbial activity. The addition of nanocellulose (2-6% weight of starch) increased the tensile strength, but decreased the elongation at break of the films. These results suggest that starch nanocellulose and SNBTE films are not only biodegradable under soil conditions but also positively contribute to soil health, highlighting their potential as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic films in the packaging industry., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The multifunctional active smart biomass film was prepared by incorporating chitosan-adsorbed laurate esterified starch curcumin Pickering emulsion into the starch film matrix, with nano-cellulose serving as reinforcing agents. The mechanical and functional properties of the film were studied, and the film was used to monitor the freshness of pork. The results demonstrated a relatively uniform distribution of curcumin and Pickering emulsion droplets within the film matrix. Furthermore, the thermal stability was minimally impacted by the introduction of curcumin Pickering emulsion, while the tensile strength and tensile strain of the film were increased, and both its hydrophobicity and antioxidant properties were improved. The free radical scavenging rate reached 56.01 %, with sustained high antioxidant capacity even after 8 days. Additionally, the presence of curcumin provided the film with pH indicating ability and delayed pork spoilage. Therefore, this work provides an attractive strategy for constructing green, active, and smart biomass packaging films for meat packaging applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The traditional starch-based intelligent freshness labels struggle to maintain long-term structural stability when exposed to moisture. To solve this problem, we prepared composite crosslinked labels using phytic acid for double crosslinking of corn starch and soybean isolate proteins, with anthocyanin serving as the chromogenic dye. The mechanical properties, hydrophobic characteristics, and pH responsivity of these crosslinked labels were assessed in this study. The prepared double-crosslinked labels showed reduced moisture content (15.96%), diminished swelling (147.21%), decreased solubility (28.55%), and minimized water permeability, which suggested that they have enhanced hydrophobicity and densification. The crosslinked labels demonstrated the ability to maintain morphological stability when immersed in water for 12 h. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the crosslinked labels were enhanced without compromising their pH-sensing capabilities, demonstrated a color response visible to the naked eye for milk and coconut water freshness monitoring, suggesting great potential for application in beverages freshness monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Corn starch (CS) is a good alternative to synthetic polymers due to its sustainability; nevertheless, because of its weak tensile strength, the matrix requires another polymer. Therefore, 0.5 % (w/v) moringa gum (MG) was added. The purpose of this study was to assess how pine cone extract (PCE) affected the physiochemical and mechanical properties of corn starch and moringa gum (CS/MG) films and their use as UV-blocking composites. The findings suggest that the PCE improved the elongation at break from 3.27 % to 35.2 % while greatly reducing the tensile strength. The hydrogen bonding between CS/MG and PCE was visible in the FTIR spectra. The XRD graph indicated that the films were amorphous. In comparison to CS/MG films, PCE-incorporated edible films demonstrated significant UV-blocking ability indicating their potential as sustainable packaging material for light-sensitive food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polysaccharide-based antibacterial agents have received tremendous attention for the facile fabrication, low toxicity, and high compatibility with carbohydrate polymers. However, the antimicrobial mechanism, activity, and cytotoxicity for human-contact paperboards of oxidized starch (OST) with high carboxyl content, has not been explored. Herein, OST-27- 75 with 27- 75 wt% carboxyl contents were fabricated by H 2 O 2 and coated on paperboards. Strikingly, OST-55 coating layer (16 g/m 2 ) did not exfoliate from paperboard and possessed the rapid-sustainable antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The soluble and insoluble components of OST-55 (OST55-S: OST55-IS mass ratio = 1: 2.1) presented different antimicrobial features and herein they were characterized by GC-MS, FT-IR, H-NMR, XRD, bacteriostatic activities, biofilm formation inhibition and intracellular constituent leakage to survey the antibacterial mechanism. The results revealed OST55-S displayed an amorphous structure and possessed superior antibacterial activity against S. aureus (MIC = 4 mg/mL) and E. coli (MIC = 8 mg/mL). Distinctively, OST55-S could rapidly ionize [H + ] like "missile boats" from small molecule saccharides, while OST55-IS polyelectrolyte could continuously and slowly release for [H + ] like an "aircraft carrier" to inhibit biofilm formation and disrupt cell structure. Eventually, the "Missile boats-Aircraft carrier" strategy provided a green methodology to fabricate polymeric antibacterial agents and expanded the use of cellulose-based materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Starch and modified starch, spanning various structural levels, are comprehensively reviewed, with a special emphasis on the advancement of starch and its derivative-based delivery systems for bioactive substances. The pivotal aspect highlighted is the controlled release of active ingredients by starch-based delivery systems with distinct hierarchical structures. At the molecular level, diverse categories of starch degradation products, such as dextrin and highly branched starch, serve as versatile amphiphilic carriers for encapsulating active ingredients. At the level of helical structure, the distinctive configuration of the starch-guest complex partly determines the mechanism of controlled release for diverse active components. At the crystal and particle structural level, starch assumes the role of a carrier, effectively modulating the release of active substances, and enhances the innate physiological activity of different active components. As a natural polymer molecule, starch can also generate hydrogel materials in polymer form, expanding its utility in the fields of food, materials, and even medicine., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

People are exploring the potential application of 3D printing in food, biomedicine and environment, but it is urgent to find suitable bio-ink. Bio-ink compounded with starch and hydrocolloid can not only improve the rheology, structure and printability of starch-based edible bio-ink, but also endow it with other functional characteristics, so that it can be applied to food, biomedicine and even the environment, and meet the strategic needs of national health, green and sustainable development. In this paper, hydrocolloids are reviewed as potential means to regulate the physicochemical properties of starch, which endows it with good printability and presents excellent printing products. The specific applications of the bio-ink in the fields of food, biomedicine and environment in hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, swallowable food, delivery, intelligent materials, and bio-sensor are also discussed. Then, the challenges and future development trends of realizing large-scale application are prospected. Proper physicochemical properties of starch-hydrocolloid are positively correlated with printability. The presentation of excellent printability has realized the application in different fields, not only satisfies most people, but also create benefits for some specific people. This review is expected to provide some theoretical guidance for the further development of 3D printing technology and its large-scale application.

Starch has great potential to replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging applications. However, starch films often exhibit poor mechanical and barrier properties, and are vulnerable to moisture and bacterial contamination. This study proved that the incorporation of eggshell powder (ES) enhanced the hydrogen bonding in starch-based films significantly, which contributed to improved tensile strength, Young's modulus, and water resistance of the films. The performance of ES-incorporated films could be optimized by adjusting the size, concentration, and surface property of ES in the film matrix. Notably, adsorbing epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the surface of porous ES contributed to enhanced dispersibility of the fillers in the film matrix, which increased the tortuous path of light, water vapor, and oxygen have to take through the films, resulting in increased UV screening performance, water vapor and oxygen barrier property of the films by 60 %, 7.2 %, and 27.9 %, respectively. Meanwhile, loading EGCG in ES also enable superior antibacterial activity of the final films. This study suggests that eggshell fillers offer a sustainable means of improving the functional performance of starch-based films, which may increase their application as packaging materials in the food industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Flocculation is a common process for wastewater treatment. However, the most commonly used organic synthetic flocculants such as polyacrylamide are petroleum-based. In this work, biomass lignin was grafted with cationic starch to synthesize low-cost, green and fully biomass-based multifunctional flocculants. The cationic polyacrylamide was replaced by cheap industrial cationic starch. Hyperbranched multifunctional lignin-grafted cationic starch flocculant (CS-L) was successfully prepared via ring-opening reaction with epichlorohydrin. The mass content of lignin in the grafted product was between 16.6 % and 70.1 %. With the dosage of CS-L between 4.0 and 7.5 mg/l, the turbidity removal rate for 500 mg/l kaolin suspension reached more than 97 %. When the dosage of CS-L was 24 mg/l, the removal rate of 50 mg/l Cu 2+ reached 85.7 %. Importantly, when the mixed solution of kaolin particles and Cu 2+ was treated, the synchronous removal rates of kaolin and Cu 2+ reached 90 % and 72 % respectively in the range of 8.0-12.0 mg/l flocculant addition. The synthesized lignin-grafted cationic starch flocculant showed an excellent multifunctional flocculation function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To adopt carbohydrate polymers as biodegradable plastic is a promising strategy to eliminate the pollution evoked by oil-based plastics. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) with different glycerol and tartaric acid (TA) contents were prepared by twin-screw extrusion, then extruded with poly (butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) to obtain PBAT/TPS. A "Lever Principle" was adopted for adjusting the hydrogen bond strength of TPS by varying TA and glycerol contents which influenced the blocking force, mechanical properties and migration quantity of PBAT/TPS (PT) films manufactured by film blowing. Noteworthy, as the glycerol content decreased from 27.5 to 15 %, with 25 times "Lever Principle" for increasing TA content, the migration weight and blocking force decreased from 5.8 % and 58.4 × 10 -4  N/mm for HPT0.5-27.5 to 1.7 % and 29.1 × 10 -4  N/mm for HPT0.5-15 with 15.2 MPa tensile strength. This study adopted "Lever Principle" to adjust hydrogen bond strength, which could realize the good performance with low migration quantity for biodegradable PT films., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Here, we used techniques of extrusion and coating to produce starch-based foams with a combined function of buffering and controlled release of oxygen. The foams presented open-cell structures and showed a compression recovery ratio of 94%. After coating with poly(vinyl alcohol) solution, in which calcium peroxides were loaded, the developed functional foams showed a behavior of controllable oxygen release under a wet condition, as well as a high compression strength (≥2.2 MPa). Also, these foams showed an improved moisture resistance with a reduction in maximum moisture absorption from 25 to 14%. Under a vibrated storage condition to simulate food transportation, guavas packaged with functional foams showed a reduced physical damage, and browning index from 5.00 to 2.97, owing to the foams' superior buffering ability and self-regulation of storage atmosphere. The functional packaging system of the starch-based foams developed in our work is promising for fruit and vegetable preservations., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The starch composite films (SCFs) will be one of the best alternative packaging materials to petroleum based plastic films, which mitigates white pollution and energy consumption. However, weak mechanical stability, water resistance, and dyeability has hindered the application of SCFs. Herein, a bioinspired robust SCFs with super-hydrophobicity and excellent structural colors were prepared by fiber-reinforcement and assembling SiO 2 /Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) amorphous arrays on the surface of SCFs. The properties of the designed SCFs were investigated by various methods including scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), a tensile test, contact angle (CA) test, and an optical test. The results showed that the obtained SCFs possessed a higher tensile strength (55.17 MPa) attributed to the formed abundant hydrogen bonds between the molecular chains of the starch, cellulose fiber, and polyvinyl alcohol. Benefiting from the nanostructure with rough surface which were modified by materials with low surface free energy, the contact angle and sliding angle of the film reached up to 154° and 2°, respectively. The colors which were produced by the constructive interference of the coherent scattered light could cover all of the visible regions by tuning the diameters of the SiO 2 nanoparticles. The strategy in the present study not only reinforces the mechanical strength and water resistance of SCFs but also provides an environmentally friendly way to color the them, which shows unprecedented application potential in packaging materials of the starch composite films.

This study aimed to develop a plasticized starch (PS) based film loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs, 1, 2, 3, and 4%) as a reinforcing and antibacterial agent. We examined the morphology, biodegradability, mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and barrier properties of the PS/CNPs films. The antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria was investigated by colony forming unit (CFU) and disc diffusion methods. A dense structure was obtained for all PS/CNPs films and, thus, their complete biodegradation occurred in more days than neat PS. The increase in the CNPs percentage led to improved mechanical behaviour and barrier properties. PS-CNPs composite films revealed inhibition zones against both E. coli and S. aureus, with the 100% reduction in CFU against S. aureus. The current study exhibited that PS-CNPs films were more effective in inhibiting bacteria growth than neat PS film, confirming the composite films potential application as antimicrobial food packaging., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bio-based additives received significant attention in pulp and paper properties improvement. For this, the most cited biochemical Cellulose Nano Fibrils (CNFs) and Cationic Starch (CS) were experimentally compared with the most declared synthetic chemical, Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM). SEM images showed better paper surface filling by the utilization of the chemicals. The three studied polymers, in solely or combination mechanism, improved mainly bagasse pulp and paper properties compared to the blank sample, except for pulp drainage, which decreased by CNFs to lower volumes presumably due to its intrinsic characteristics. Cationic polymers (CP) compared to CP/CNFs approaches increased pulp retention and drainage but decreased paper density and strengths. The best pulp retention and drainage achieved by CS followed by CPAM, while paper air persistency, density, and strength properties evaluated highest by CP/CNFs followed by CNFs. Generally, CS revealed a more significant improvement in pulp and paper properties than CPAM either with or without CNFs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This research study explores the fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and corn starch (ST) with pineapple peel extract (PPE) as a natural antioxidant agent, which is an abundant by-product from the food processing industry via casting method. The effects of PPEs concentration (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) on the antioxidant capacity, optical, thermal, mechanical, barrier properties, and changes in PVOH-starch molecular structure of PVOH/ST films were investigated. The results revealed that with the increasing concertation of PPEs, prepared films' thickness and water vapor permeability slightly increased. Elongation at break of PVOH/ST films was also enhanced with PPEs concentration. All PPEs incorporated films exhibited enhanced thermal stability as the degradation occurred above 300 °C. The addition of PPE to PVOH/ST films remarkably increased the antioxidant properties. Finally, prepared PVOH/ST/PPE films demonstrated to be a capable material for developing active biodegradable packaging material due to its proven antioxidant activity and mechanical property, which can be helpful in the packaging of food products that gets spoiled due to oxidation reactions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An active antioxidant film was fabricated by using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and corn starch (ST) and incorporated with and 3, 5, 10, and 20% (v/v) coconut shell extract (CSE) and sepiolite clay (SP) for the first time. The microstructure and physical properties of prepared films were characterized and examined. The addition of sepiolite clay to PVA improved the elongation break 15.57 to 69.24%, and water vapor permeability increased with the addition of CSE. In addition to CSE to films, the antioxidant activity properties of the films were enhanced up to 80%. Further, increasing the amount of CSE slightly affected the color of the active films. The thermal properties of films were enhanced with the addition of CSE and SP. The dispersion of SP in the PVA matrix was affected by an increase in CSE concentration in the PVA matrix. Remarkably, PVA-ST film-based sachets successfully improved the oxidative stability of packaged soybean oil. Our results suggest PVA-ST film containing CSE and sepiolite clay can be utilized as a novel antioxidant packaging material in the food processing industry., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A cellulose nanocrystal based oxidation system is developed for oxidizing starch in the presence of NaClO, and provides an alternative and green method to improve the oxidizing degree of oxidized starch. The underlying mechanism for the oxidation was studied with confocal laser scanning microscopy. It was found that cellulose nanocrystal would penetrate into the starch microparticles and contribute to oxidation. The function of cellulose nanocrystal on the physicochemical properties of oxidized starch was investigated. With the incorporation of the oxidized starch into starch/polyvinyl alcohol/glyceryl composite films, the mechanical property and transparency of the films improved substantially. The highest oxidation level of starch was attained at 0.5 wt% cellulose nanocrystal dosage and the carboxylate content was 1.10%, the composite film showed the maximum transparency of 0.66 and highest contact angle of 102.0°. Meanwhile, the best film was obtained with oxidized starch containing 1.0 wt% cellulose nanocrystal. Compared to native starch and TEMPO-oxidated starch, the cellulose nanocrystal-based oxidized starch improved the hydrophobicity of film more substanially. In conclusion, cellulose nanocrystal acts as prooxidant and reforcing agent in this starch-based composite film, which makes them promising materials in the preparation of novel composite materials., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Efficiently preparing a starch-based plastic with moisture insensitivity and toughness is a challenge to improve the high-value utilization of polysaccharide resources. Herein, a sustainable, recyclable starch-based plastic was prepared in a facile and eco-friendly way. First, starch acetoacetate (SAA) with different degrees of substitution (DSs) was synthesized by transesterification. Then, the SAA film was obtained through a solvent-free hot-pressing method. Notably, SAA with different DSs exhibited various glass transition temperatures (109-140 °C), and SAA with high DS (>0.84) was insoluble even after boiling in water for 1 h. Also, the maximum fracture strength of SAA film up to 15.5 MPa and a maximum elongation at break up to 30% were reached . In addition, the starch-based plastic film retained the original mechanical properties after three cycles of hot processing. In consideration of the facile preparation process, this protocol provided a new avenue for developing sustainable and recyclable starch-based plastics.

The development of biopolymer films is crucial for the replacement of conventional plastics. Tremendous effort is made to improve their performances by introducing biopolymers through the film manufacturing process. Herein, a sandwich-architectured film was proposed to efficiently improve the adhesion between the PS and PLA layers by using octenyl succinic anhydride-modified pea starch (OMPS) layer as the interlayer, leading to a highly mechanically enhanced interpenetrating network. Accordingly, the properties of the films were enhanced due to the synergism effect of sandwich architecture. In particular, the WVP value of the sandwich-architectured films (0.25 ∼ 0.89×10 -10 g·m -1 ·s -1 ·Pa -1 ) decreased more than 7-fold compared with the OMPS20 film, and the OP value of the sandwich-architectured films (0.256 ∼ 1.229×10 -12 cm 3 ·m·m -2 ·s -1 ·Pa -1 ) decreased more than 10-fold in comparison to the PLA film. Benefitting from the characteristics investigated above, the films exhibited a favorable effect on strawberry storage. Overall, the fabricated eco-friendly sandwich-architectured films have shown great potential for biodegradable packaging applications., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Starch and derivatives thereof have proven their usefulness in paper coating processes. Among these derivatives, cationic starch has been widely used in the paper industry as a flocculation, dispersion and ink fixing agent. In another context, nanoscale cellulosic materials have been shown to improve the strength, retention of fillers, the barrier properties of packaging paper products, and printing qualities. This review summarizes the recent studies on the general components used in paper coating, describes the conventional and alternative synthetic processes of cationic starches and nanocellulose, and deals with their current and potential applications in papermaking, focusing primarily on surface treatments. Moreover, environmental applications have been considered to expand the understanding and usefulness of these materials. Further research on modified polysaccharides is encouraged to replace, in a feasible way, petro-based components of coating formulations, and to provide paper surfaces with new properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Generally, the mechanical strength and stiffness of old corrugated cardboard (OCC) waste paper are decreased after multiple recycling procedures. Surface sizing starch, which is extensively used in the surface sizing of paper making, accumulates after dissolving from the fibers and is transformed into pollutant during the OCC re-pulping process. To overcome the pollution and reutilization problem of the waste starch during the recycling process of OCC paper, waste starch was ionized using hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to improve the mechanical properties of OCC paper during the reutilization. The results showed that the carboxyl group of waste starch increased with an increasing degree of ionization, resulting in enhanced copper ion adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the retention rate of the modified starch in the wet-end increased from 18.0% to 48.2%. The OCC paper presented the highest burst index and tensile strength of 8.94 kPa m 2 /g and 112.5 N m/g, respectively, when MS-2 was added. This work has great significance for implementation of the cleaning production of OCC waste papers and the reutilization of the waste starch., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Starch based bio-latex has been widely researched in the coating paper area for the purpose of partial replacement of petroleum-based binders. In this paper, a green and facile ball milling pretreatment was proposed to modify the starch granules before α-amylase hydrolysis by breaking up their crystalline structure, thus improving the accessibility and susceptibility of amylase into starch structure. It was found that the improved hydrolysis process after 8 h ball milling can generate suitable degree of polymerization of polysaccharides or oligosaccharides, which further facilitated the following H 2 O 2 oxidation and SHMP crosslinking processes. In addition, a mechanism was also demonstrated to illustrate the improvement induced by ball milling pretreatment. The prepared bio-latex with crosslinking-structure performed excellent adhesive properties when substituted 25 % of petroleum-based latex during paper coating application, which showed great potential in improving the economic, cost, and environment benefits of traditional production of coated paper., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We would like to submit the enclosed manuscript entitled “Ball milling pretreatment facilitating α-amylase hydrolysis for production of starch-based bio-latex with high performance”, which we wish to be considered as a research paper for publication in “Carbohydrate Polymers”. There is no conflict of interest in this submission. I would like to declare on behalf of my co-authors that the work described is original research that has not been published previously, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part. The research in the manuscript has been conducted under the guidance of international ethical standards., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This review focuses on cationic starches with a low degree of substitution (<0.06) which are mainly used for production of paper-based products. After a brief introduction on starch in general, cationization pathways and importance of cationic starches in paper production, this review emphasizes on the analytical challenges from different perspectives. These include the different length scales of starches when in solution: the macromolecular level, their assembly into nm aggregates and finally hydrocolloids with hundreds of nanometers of diameter. We give an overview on the current state of the art on the analysis of such challenging samples and aim at providing a guideline for obtaining and presenting reliable analytical data., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The bio-nanocomposites of cationic starch (CS)/montmorillonite (MMT)/nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were produced by solution casting method. The effects of NCC and MMT nanoparticles on optical, barrier and mechanical properties of CS films were investigated. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the partly intercalated and partly exfoliated structure of CS/MMT/NCC films. The FTIR test showed the forming of new hydrogen bonds between the CS hydroxyl groups and nanoparticles. FESEM analysis proved that the dispersion of NCC and MMT in the CS matrix is homogenous. The optical clarity of CS based films was almost unaffected in presence of MMT and NCC. The ternary nanocomposites with 5 wt% NCC and MMT showed the best improvements in the properties. The tensile strength and the tensile modulus of nanocomposites increased up to 61% and 73% respectively, compared to the pure CS film. The nanocomposites demonstrated highest disintegrability rate and good reduction in water vapor and oxygen permeability with addition of NCC., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Oil palm is an important crop for global vegetable oil production, and is widely grown in the humid tropical regions of Southeast Asia. Projected future climate change may well threaten palm oil production. However, oil palm plantations currently produce large amounts of unutilised biological waste. Oil palm stems - which comprise two-thirds of the waste - are especially relevant because they can contain high levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) that can serve as feedstock for biorefineries. The NSC in stem are also considered a potent buffer to source-sink imbalances. In the present study, we monitored stem NSC levels and female reproductive growth. We then applied convergent cross mapping (CCM) to assess the causal relationship between the time-series. Mutual causal relationships between female reproductive growth and the stem NSC were detected, with the exception of a relationship between female reproductive organ growth and starch levels. The NSC levels were also influenced by long-term cumulative temperature, with the relationship showing a seven-month time lag. The dynamic between NSC levels and long-term cumulative rainfall showed a shorter time lag. The lower temperatures and higher cumulative rainfall observed from October to December identify this as a period with maximum stem NSC stocks.

The green composite cassava starch films were prepared using stearic acid modified microcrystalline cellulose (M-MCC)/nanocellulose (M-NCC) as strength agent, which shows good mechanical and hydrophobic properties and is a candidate for food package in this work. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was prepared with 98% phosphoric acid hydrolysis and mechanical stirring at 600 r/min and nanocellulose (NCC) was prepared with 65% sulfuric acid hydrolysis. After using stearic acid to modify MCC and NCC, the casting method was used to prepare the M-MCC/cassava starch composite films and M-NCC/cassava starch films. Physical, mechanical, hydrophobic and thermal properties were characterized using SEM, electronic universal testing machine, contact angle meter and TGA. The results showed that: M-MCC and M-NCC can lead to the enhancement of mechanical and hydrophobic properties of composite films; 0.5% M-MCC and 1.5% M-NCC had the highest enhancement effect on mechanical properties, leading the tensile strength of cassava starch film increased by 484.5% and 327.7% respectively; As to hydrophobic property, when 2% M-MCC and 0.5% M-NCC added, the hydrophobicity of the film increased by 65.0% and 30.3% respectively. Overall, the enhancement effect of M-MCC was better than M-NCC. But when M-MCC/M-NCC was added, the thermal stability of films reduced., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Renewable and biodegradable packaging materials are desired for numerous applications. Pea starch (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA) are promising alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers except that their phase separation causes poor mechanical properties. To surmount this problem, PS/PLA films with a double-layer structure were designed. The bilayer films displayed better toughness, thermal stability and barrier capacity over those of PLA films. The incorporation of PLA on a PS layer increased water resistance and tensile strength over those of a monolayer PS film. Weak interfacial adhesion between the PS and PLA layers was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The bilayer films reduced weight loss ratio of cherry tomatoes and extended the retention of organic acids and vitamin C. A bilayer architecture represents a promising route to develop packaging materials that display the advantageous properties of each material layer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper reports on an automated temperature-programmed headspace GC technique for the determination of gelatinization temperature of starch. 1-butanol was used as a tracer and added to the starch-solution for the test. Based on measuring the GC signal of 1-butanol in the headspace with the temperature increasing, two transition points (corresponding to the onset temperature and the ending temperature of starch gelatinization) were observed by plotting the GC signal of 1-butanol vs. the temperature. The results showed that the method has a good measurement precision (the standard deviation < 1 °C) and accuracy (the average relative differences = 3.9%, compared to a standard reference method). The present method is simple and suitable for the gelatinization temperature testing for starch samples., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, various amounts of nanoclay montmorillonite (MMT) and ZnO nanopowders were used to analyze the properties of biodegradable nanocomposites of cationic starch (CS). Nanocomposites are produced by solvent casting method. The structure of CS-MMT nanocomposite films that contain 3% montmorillonite was exfoliated and was proved by XRD test. New hydrogen bonds were successfully formed between the CS hydroxyl groups and nanofillers and this was proved by FTIR test. The water vapor permeability and the UV light transmittance of the nanocomposites reduced after the contents of MMT and ZnO increased. ∆E and opacity of the nanocomposites enhanced after the amount of ZnO increased. Tensile strength (TS) of nanocomposites increased after the incorporation of ZnO and MMT nanoparticles although the elongation at break was diminished. Results showed that the 3 and 0.7 wt% amounts of montmorillonite and ZnO nanopowders were sufficient in order to acquire a well-moderated mechanical behavior in plastic and elastic regions, and they also cause good improvements in barrier and optical properties., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Waxy rice starch slurry (10%, w/w) was treated with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) (100-600 MPa) for 20 min and morphology, gelatinization property, X-ray diffraction pattern, semi-crystalline structure, and in vitro digestibility was determined. The morphology analysis showed that HHP treatment significantly affected the shape of starch granules. The thermal properties indicated an increase in gelatinization temperatures and decreased enthalpy with increasing pressure. However, compared with lower pressure, a complete gelatinization of starch was induced by 600 MPa. The lamellar repeat distance increased with increased pressure, while scattering peak disappeared at 600 MPa as a result of starch gelatinization. Based on the in vitro digestibility results of slowly digestible starch, HHP treatment at 400 MPa could be beneficial for improving the functionality of the waxy rice starch., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The understanding of the interactions between starch and cellulose hydrocolloids is crucial for equipment design and definition of operation parameters in the food industry. In the present study, the possible interactions of wheat starch (WS) with different levels (2-10%) of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in short-term retrogradation were explored by dynamic rheological and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) measurements. The chains of water-soluble CMC could creep into the continuous phase during paste gelation. It was found the amylose network structure was broken and the inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bond of WS were weaken after gelation. Moreover, there were interactions between the chains of CMC and chains of amylose at higher CMC concentration. On other hand, water connected with COO - groups blocked the interactions between CMC chains and amylose, and the interactions among CMC chains. The amorphous phases of high crystalline MCC were just swollen during paste gelation. It results that heterogeneous microstructure with amylose and MCC domains unevenly distributed was in WS/MCC paste., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This paper proposed a new reaction headspace gas chromatographic (HS-GC) method for efficiently quantifying the total starch content in wheat flours. A certain weight of wheat flour was oxidized by potassium dichromate in an acidic condition in a sealed headspace vial. The results show that the starch in wheat flour can be completely transferred to carbon dioxide at the given conditions (at 100 °C for 40 min) and the total starch content in wheat flour sample can be indirectly quantified by detecting the CO 2 formed from the oxidation reaction. The data showed that the relative standard deviation of the reaction HS-GC method in the precision test was less than 3.06%, and the relative differences between the new method and the reference method (titration method) were no more than 8.90%. The new reaction HS-GC method is automated, accurate, and can be a reliable tool for determining the total starch content in wheat flours in both laboratory and industrial applications. Graphical abstract The total starch content in wheat flour can be indirectly quantified by the GC detection of the CO 2 formed from the oxidation reaction between wheat flour and potassium dichromate in an acidic condition.

Water-resistant cellulose foam paper was developed in this work in an attempt to improve the antimicrobial activity of cellulose foam paper for capture and deactivation of pathogenic microorganisms existed in water. Results indicated that the cellulose foam paper could significantly improve household water quality by incorporating guanidine-based polymer modified with starch or called antibacterial thermoplastic starch (ATPS) into fibre network in the presence of proper amount of fiber fines. Ring diffusion testing demonstrated that no ATPS diffused around or underneath of samples, verifying that cellulose foam filter added by ATPS were of non-leaching type. Furthermore, the viability of bacteria before and after filtering and the structure of cellulose foam paper were analyzed via fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images. The findings further proved the effectiveness of antimicrobial cellulose foam in deactivating pathogens, E.coli in particular., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Starch nanocrystals (SNC) are aptly described as the insoluble degradation byproducts of starch granules that purportedly display morphologies that are platelet-like, round, square, and oval-like. In this work, we reported the preparation of SNC with unprecedented tubular structures through sulfuric acid hydrolysis of normal maize starch, subsequent exposure to ammonia and relaxation at 4°C. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observation clearly proved that the SNCs possess tubular nanostructures with polygonal cross-section. After further reviewing the transformations of SNC by acid hydrolysis, ammonia treatment, and curing time at 4°C, a mechanism for T-SNC formation is suggested. It is conjectured that T-SNC gradually self-assembles by combination of smaller platelet-like/square nanocrystals likely loosely aggregated by starch molecular chains from residual amorphous regions. This work paves the way for the pursuit of new approaches for the preparation of starch-based nanomaterials possessing unique morphologies., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cellulosic nanofibers (NFs) from kenaf bast were used to reinforce glycerol plasticized thermoplastic starch (TPS) matrices with varying contents (0-10wt%). The composites were prepared by casting/evaporation method. Raw fibers (RFs) reinforced TPS films were prepared with the same contents and conditions. The aim of study was to investigate the effects of filler dimension and loading on linear and non-linear mechanical performance of fabricated materials. Obtained results clearly demonstrated that the NF-reinforced composites had significantly greater mechanical performance than the RF-reinforced counterparts. This was attributed to the high aspect ratio and nano dimension of the reinforcing agents, as well as their compatibility with the TPS matrix, resulting in strong fiber/matrix interaction. Tensile strength and Young's modulus increased by 313% and 343%, respectively, with increasing NF content from 0 to 10wt%. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed an elevational trend in the glass transition temperature of amylopectin-rich domains in composites. The most eminent record was +18.5°C shift in temperature position of the film reinforced with 8% NF. This finding implied efficient dispersion of nanofibers in the matrix and their ability to form a network and restrict mobility of the system., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Waxy rice starch was subjected to pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment at intensity of 30, 40 and 50kVcm(-1). The impact of PEF treatment on the granular morphology, molecular weight, semi-crystalline structure, thermal properties, and digestibility were investigated. The micrographs suggested that electric energy could act on the granule structure of starch granule, especially at high intensity of 50kVcm(-1). Gelatinization onset temperature, peak temperature, conclusion temperature and enthalpy value of PEF treated starches were lower than that of native starch. The 9nm lamellar peak of PEF treated starches decreased as revealed by small angle X-ray scattering. The relative crystallinity of treated starches decreased as the increase of electric field intensity. Increased rapidly digestible starch level and decreased slowly digestible starch level was found on PEF treated starches. These results would imply that PEF treatment induced structural changes in waxy rice starch significantly affected its digestibility., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Debranched waxy rice starch was subjected to repeated crystallization (RC) treatment, and its physicochemical properties and digestion pattern were investigated. The A-type crystalline pattern of native starch was crystallized to a complex of B- and V-type patterns by debranching and RC treatment. Among the treated starches, the relative crystallinity of debranched starch reached its maximum (29.6%) after eight repetitions of crystallization. Changes in weight-average molar mass among treated starch samples were not significantly different. The repeated-crystallized starches showed higher thermal transition temperatures and melting enthalpy than that of debranched starch. As a result, slowly digestible starch (SDS) content of repeated-crystallized starches reached a very high level (57.8%). Results showed that RC treatment induced structural changes of waxy rice starch result in a great amount of SDS., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study the effects of chemical modification of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) on the biodegradability and mechanical properties of reinforced thermoplastic starch (TPS) nanocomposites was evaluated. The CNFs were modified using acetic anhydride and the nanocomposites were fabricated by solution casting from corn starch with glycerol/water as the plasticizer and 10 wt% of either CNFs or acetylated CNFs (ACNFs). The morphology, water absorption (WA), water vapor permeability rate (WVP), tensile, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and fungal degradation properties of the obtained nanocomposites were investigated. The results demonstrated that the addition of CNFs and ACNFs significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites and reduced the WVP and WA of the TPS. The effects were more pronounced for the CNFs than the ACNFs. The DMA showed that the storage modulus was improved, especially for the CNFs/TPS nanocomposite. Compared with the neat TPS, the addition of nanofibers improved the degradation rate of the nanocomposite and particularly ACNFs reduced degradation rate of the nanocomposite toward fungal degradation., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Waxy rice starch was subjected to annealing (ANN) and heat-moisture treatment (HMT). These starches were also treated by a combination of ANN and HMT. The impact of single and dual modifications (ANN-HMT and HMT-ANN) on the molecular weight (M(w)), crystalline structure, thermal properties, and the digestibility were investigated. The relative crystallinity and short-range order on the granule surface increased on ANN, whereas decreased on HMT. All treated starches showed lower M(w) than that of the native starch. Gelatinization onset temperature, peak temperature and conclusion temperature increased for both single and dual treatments. Increased slowly digestible starch content was found on HMT and ANN-HMT. However, resistant starch levels decreased in all treated starches as compared with native starch. The results would imply that hydrothermal treatment induced structural changes in waxy rice starch significantly affected its digestibility., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Slowly digestible starch (SDS) was obtained through debranched waxy rice starch and subsequent crystallization under isothermal and temperature-cycled conditions. Temperature-cycled crystallization of dual 4/-20 °C produced a higher yield of SDS product than isotherm crystallization. Crystal structure of SDS products changed from A-type to a mixture of B and V-type X-ray diffraction patterns. The relative crystallinity was higher in the temperature-cycled samples than that of isotherm. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that the peripheral regions of isothermal storage starch were better organized than temperature-cycles. Temperature cycling induced higher onset temperature for melting of crystals than isothermal storage under a differential scanning calorimeter. The cycled temperature storage induced a greater amount of SDS than the isothermal storage., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the application of different dosages of low and high molecular weights (MW) of chitosan (Ch), cationic starch (CS) and poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) were systematically investigated using old corrugated carton (OCC) furnishes. Various sequences of above-mentioned polymeric additives were also examined to find out the optimal combination for improving both wet and dry tensile strength. For each treatment, 4 handsheets, each having basis weight of 100 g/m(2), were made. In general, the tensile strength of handsheets was significantly affected by the addition of polymeric agents. The enhancing effect of additives on dry tensile property was much higher than wet condition. The results also showed that the tensile strength of the samples made from OCC furnishes were improved upon the addition of high molecular weight chitosan (ChI) compared to the untreated ones (control). The low MW chitosan did not change the properties of handsheets dramatically. Application of polymeric agents moderately decreased the stretch to rupture, however with increasing dosage the stretch was improved. Sequential addition of used polymers showed that triple application of polymers was beneficial to both dry and wet tensile strength, although the effect was larger for dry. The best results in wet and dry tensile strengths were achieved using sequential of PVA-ChI-CS. Sequential addition of oppositely charged polymers forms a macromolecular layered structure of polyelectrolytes., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microcrystalline cellulose was prepared from bean hull, rice straw and rice hull. The use of rice hull and rice straw pulp in different proportions as a source of silica to prepare silicified microcrystalline cellulose was investigated. Preparations of microcrystalline cellulose-potato starch composites with different potato starch concentrations were performed. All samples were characterized through various techniques. Physical and mechanical properties of the prepared tablets were tested. The biological activities of one composite was tested in a hyperlipidemic rat model and compared to orlistat to assess its antilipidemic potential. This composite exhibited remarkable antilipidemic effect with decreased insulin sensitivity., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Starch nanocrystals (SNCs) are crystalline platelets resulting from the acid hydrolysis of starch. A limiting factor for their more widespread use is their preparation duration. Therefore, this study investigates the possibility of developing an enzymatic pretreatment of starch to reduce the acid hydrolysis duration. A screening of three types of enzymes, namely, α-amylase, β-amylase, and glucoamylase, is proposed, and the latter was selected for a pretreatment. Compared with the regular kinetics of hydrolysis for preparing SNC, that of pretreated starch was much faster. The extent of hydrolysis normally reached in 24 h was obtained after only 6 h, and the regular final yield (15% after 5 days) was reached in 45 h. AFM and X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that the obtained nanoparticles were indeed SNC.

Great work has been done to reduce the batch production time of starch nanocrystals (SNCs) and improve their compatibilization with different matrices. However, only one study was reported on SNC production kinetics and none on size distributions and isolation techniques. This study was designed to assess if nonsolubilized particles in the hydrolyzed starch suspension reflect the actual amount of SNC. It was observed that SNCs are produced from a very early stage. It suggests, for the first time, that (i) nanocrystals are mixed together with other microparticles and (ii) some nanocrystals might turn to sugar by the end of the batch production process explaining the low yields. An isolation process has been proposed, but limits of differential centrifugations as washing step and isolation technique were also evidenced. This study clearly shows the need for a continuous production and extraction process of SNC.

Starch from bamboo Phyllostachys bambusoides f. shouzhu Yi evaluated by means of solid-state 13C CP/MAS NMR and X-ray diffraction showed a typical B-type pattern with a very low degree of crystallinity (10.9%). In addition to starch, alkali-soluble hemicelluloses were further fractionated by graded precipitation at ethanol concentrations of 0 (HA), 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75% (v/v). Chemical composition and structural features of the six hemicellulosic subfractions were investigated by a combination of sugar analysis, GPC, FT-IR, GC-MS, 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (HSQC) NMR spectra, and thermal analysis. The results showed that the bamboo hemicelluloses were O-acetylated 4-O-methyl-glucuronoarabinoxylans (GAX) consisting of a linear (1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl backbone decorated with branches at O-3 of α-L-arabinofuranosyl (5-12 mol%) or at O-2 of 4-O-methylglucuronic acid units and acetyl groups (0.8-11 mol%). The molecular weights of these polysaccharides ranged between 13400 and 67500 g/mol, and the molar ratios of A/X and G/X increased with ascending ethanol concentrations. Moreover, xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) with DP 1-6 were produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of hemicelluloses and the total yields of XOS were range of 21.5 to 40.6%. The structure-property relationships were also established in order to improve enzyme accessibility.

Starch is a natural, renewable, and biodegradable polymer produced by many plants as a source of stored energy. It is the second most abundant biomass material in nature. The starch structure has been under research for years, and because of its complexity, an universally accepted model is still lacking (Buleon, A.; et al. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 1998, 23, 85-112). However, the predominant model for starch is a concentric semicrystalline multiscale structure that allows the production of new nanoelements: (i) starch nanocrystals resulting from the disruption of amorphous domains from semicrystalline granules by acid hydrolysis and (ii) starch nanoparticles produced from gelatinized starch. This paper intends to give a clear overview of starch nanoparticle preparation, characterization, properties, and applications. Recent studies have shown that they could be used as fillers to improve mechanical and barrier properties of biocomposites. Their use for industrial packaging, continuously looking for innovative solutions for efficient and sustainable systems, is being investigated. Therefore, recently, starch nanoparticles have been the focus of an exponentially increasing number of works devoted to develop biocomposites by blending starch nanoparticles with different biopolymeric matrices. To our knowledge, this topic has never been reviewed, despite several published strategies and conclusions.

Adding a cationic polyacrylamide (c-PAM) to either the amylase mediated hydrolysis of corn starch or the hydrolysis of wood fiber by cellulase can enhance the initial hydrolysis rates, although a rate decrease can occur under some conditions. Several c-PAMs can serve as catalysts and the same c-PAM can improve the efficiency of both amylase and cellulase. The initial amylase rate approximately doubles; the analogous cellulase hydrolysis rate increases by about 40%. c-PAMs increase the binding of enzyme to substrate.