Studying a new technique and implementing a pilot-line process for obtaining dextrins from cassava starch

This study proposes and develops a new technique for dry-route dextrin production consisting of converting cassava starch pellets on a fixed-bed dryer; this technique is more applicable to rural Colombian agro-business in technical, economic, social and environmental terms, particularly to so-called “rallanderias” compared to currently available dextrin production technology. The proposed process is practically clean, requires low investment, allows humid starch-cake to be directly used without the need for expensive pre-drying equipment, eliminates large quantities of dust being produced thereby leading to an easily-handled and packaged product being obtained. Different dex-trinisation technologies were compared; a pilot-line was implemented which included blending, granulation and drying units. The variables evaluated were cassava-starch variety, catalyst concentration and agglutinant type and concentration; pellet-size, bed-thickness and air-speed were also evaluated during blending, granulation and drying stages, respectively. It was determined that using 0.1-0.3% HCl on cassava starch, 1.5-3% cassava starch paste, L/D=1.25 pellets, a 55oC pre -drying phase and 150oC final conversion on 2 cm thickness fixed-bed dryer at 2-3 m/s air speed led to obtaining low friability (13%), high rupture force (1.3 kg-f), high solubility (90-100%) and low fluidity (50-70 s) dextrin pellets. An adhesive was then obtained from the dextrin resulting from the process described above for sealing cardboard-boxes and cartons having greater stickiness, tensile strength and stability compared to corn dextrin adhesive, suggesting that the proposed new cassava dextrin production technique constitutes a good technological option for adding value to Colombian cassava production at small “rallanderia” level.