Tapioca starch is extracted from the roots of the cassava plant. It is white, fine-grained flour. The cassava plant is also known as the yuca. It is a tropical plant native to South America and is now grown in many parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. Another name for tapioca starch is cassava starch or manioc starch.
How Is Tapioca Starch Produced?
Making tapioca starch involves washing and grinding the cassava roots to release the starch. To produce the fine, white powder, the starch is separated from the fibrous material and dried.
Tapioca starch is a gluten- and grain-free ingredient commonly used as a thickener, binder, and stabilizer in food products. It also finds application in other industries like paper, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. The tapioca starch’s high viscosity and neutral flavor make it suitable for use in different applications.
Applications of Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is a versatile ingredient that is widely used across various industries. Here are some of the applications of tapioca starch:
1. Food
The versatility and unique properties of tapioca starch make it a common ingredient in the food industry. It is often used as a stabilizer, thickener, and binder in food products such as baked goods, desserts, sauces, and soups.
Tapioca starch can also be a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour in bread and other baked goods. Due to its high viscosity, it is also suitable for use to create a smooth, creamy texture in products like custard and pudding. Tapioca starch is also used to produce tapioca pearls, instant noodles, and several processed foods.
Generally, tapioca starch contributes to the stability and texture of many products. These qualities make it a valuable ingredient in the food industry.
2. Pharmaceutical
The pharmaceutical industry is another field where tapioca starch is commonly used. It is used as an excipient in capsules and tablets, which helps bind the ingredients together and improve the flow properties of the powder.
Also, tapioca starch is used in the production of emulsions and suspensions. When used here, it helps to stabilize the product and prevent separation. Tapioca starch has a high purity and a neutral flavor, making it great for use in the pharmaceutical industry. It is a valuable ingredient that contributes to the quality and effectiveness of many pharmaceutical formulations.
3. Textile
Tapioca starch also finds applications in the textile industry. In textile processing, it is used as a sizing agent. In this case, it improves the stiffness and smoothness of the fabric. It is also used as a finishing agent, improving the fabric’s feel and appearance.
Tapioca starch has film-forming properties and a high level of viscosity. These characteristics make it ideal for use in textile processing. Tapioca starch contributes to the durability and quality of many textile products, including clothing, bedding, and upholstery.
4. Paper
Tapioca starch finds applications in the paper industry, using it as a binder in paper coating formulations. It improves the strength and printability of the paper it is used for. It is also used as a surface sizing agent, improving the surface strength and smoothness of the paper.
Just as it is with the textile industry, the film-forming properties and high viscosity of tapioca starch make it suitable for use in paper processing. This white, fine-grained flour adds to the durability and quality of several paper products, including packaging materials, magazines, and books.
5. Adhesive
The properties of tapioca starch also make it find applications in the adhesive industry. When used as a binder in adhesive formulations of cardboard and paper products, tapioca starch improves the durability and adhesion of the product. It also improves the flow properties and viscosity of the adhesive when used as a thickener.
Tapioca starch is low-cost and has a high purity level. This makes it an excellent alternative to other thickeners and binders. The benefit of tapioca starch to the adhesive industry is the improvement of the effectiveness and quality of many adhesive products. Examples of these products include wallpaper paste, labels, and packaging tapes.
6. Personal care
In the personal care industry, tapioca starch is used as an absorbent and thickener in various products. This includes products such as dry shampoos, powders, and deodorant. Tapioca starch helps absorb excess moisture and oil, leaving the skin dry and refreshed.
Additionally, tapioca starch adds sensory properties and effectiveness to many personal care products. This is also due to its film-forming properties and viscosity. Due to its suitability in manufacturing many personal care products, tapioca starch is widely used in the personal care industry.
7. Animal feed
Tapioca starch is used as filler and binder in animal feed pellets. This particular application helps improve the durability and physical quality of the pellets. It is also used as an energy source and a digestible carbohydrate in animal feed.
Tapioca starch is an attractive alternative to other fillers and binders because it is cost-effective and the purity level is high. Additionally, tapioca starch contributes to many animal feed products’ digestibility and nutritional value. Examples of such products include aquaculture feed, livestock feed, and pet food.
Conclusion
Tapioca starch is a white, fine-grained flour with unique properties. It is gluten-free, grain-free, and has a high viscosity and a neutral flavor. All these characteristics make it find application across various industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, animal feeds, and many more.
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Source: US Flour
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