Chapters authored
Starch Biodegradable Films Produced by Electrospraying
The use of particles obtained from biopolymers is of interest in fields such as bioengineering and nanotechnology, with applications in drug encapsulation, tissue engineering, and edible biofilms. A method used to obtain these particles is electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA), which can generate different structures depending on the process conditions and raw materials used, opening a wide range of research in the biopolymers field, where starch is considered an excellent material to produce edible and biodegradable films. This chapter is a compilation and analysis of the newest studies of this technique, using starch with or without modifications to prepare films or membranes and their potential applications. A systematic literature review, focused on starch, and EHDA was carried out, finding 158 articles that match these criteria. From these results, a search inside them, using the words edible and biodegradable was conducted, showing 93 articles with these key words. The information was analyzed observing the preference to use corn, potato, rice, and cassava starches, obtaining mainly scaffolds and fibers and, in much less proportion, films or capsules. This review shows a window of opportunity for the study of starchy materials by EHDA to produce films, coatings, and capsules at micro or nano levels.
Part of the book: Starch
Innovation in Nixtamalization by Extrusion Using the Wet Process
Extrusion wet milling nixtamalization (EWMN) is an innovative process that combines traditional nixtamalization with wet extrusion technology to produce high-quality corn products. As is known, wet extrusion technology is an HTST (high-temperature short-time) process and nixtamalization is an LTLT (low-temperature long-time) process. So, EWMN is the combination of these two technologies. It is used in high moisture, low temperature, low screw velocity and the corn grain is milled at 3 mm size. EWMN is based on mixing corn with water and lime, creating a homogeneous masa that is subjected to an extrusion process using a screw or double screw. The operating parameters, such as humidity, cooking time, production speed, and shear, are critical in this process and must be carefully controlled to obtain the desired product texture and characteristics. After extrusion, the product is dried to reduce humidity to safe and desirable levels for storage. This step is essential to increase the life of the final product. In summary, corn nixtamalization extrusion combines the traditional nixtamalization technique with wet extrusion, resulting in high-quality corn products, better digestibility, and efficiency compared to conventional processes. This innovative approach offers a promising solution for corn-based food production.
Part of the book: Exploring the World of Cereal Crops [Working title]