Synthesis and characterization of cassava starch with maleic acid derivatives by etherification reaction

Abstract Cassava starch was grafted with three different esters by the etherification reaction and its modification was characterized by 1 H NMR, FTIR, DSC, SEM, XDR, contact angle and SLS. The samples grafted with diethyl maleate, dipropyl maleate, and dibutyl maleate showed DS values of 2.3, 1.0 and 2.0, respectively, determined from 1 H NMR analysis and confirmed by FTIR analysis, with the appearance of bands at 1721, 1550 and 1126 cm −1 . The FTIR, XRD, SEM and DSC results indicated a change in the intra and intermolecular hydrogen interactions in the grafted starch when compared to native starch. Based on the contact angles, it was observed that the macromolecular starch chain acquired hydrophobic characteristics through the substitution of the hydrogens with di maleate esters. The characteristics acquired by grafted starch allow it to be used for the encapsulation of bioactive molecules for the production of bioactive packages and the production of biodegradable packages.