Cassava for industrial uses

Publication date: 12/07/2017
Extent: 32 pages

Contributions by: Kuakoon Piyachomkwan and Sittichoke Wanlapatit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand; and Klanarong Sriroth, Kasetsart University, Thailand

Chapter synopsis: Cassava serves not only as a staple food for mankind but also as an industrial crop for food and non-food applications. The roots with high starch contents are processed to dried chips and extracted pure starch. The production scale varies from household level, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), to the large, modern factories. Currently, dried chips are an important carbohydrate source in animal feed as well as for the bio-based economy, for example bioethanol and organic acid production. Starch is converted to glucose by enzyme hydrolysis and then fermented by microorganisms. Cassava starch with very high purity has versatile functionalities, particularly when modified, hydrolysed and derivatized through physical, chemical and enzyme processes, which broaden its applications in food, paper, textile, adhesive, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and chemicals.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2016.0014.02