Ultrasonication as a tool to develop starch nanoparticles from macrophytes to tailor starch properties

Area of Science:

• Biopolymer Science
• Sustainable Materials
• Food Chemistry

Background:

• Increasing demand for sustainable biopolymers like starch.
• Exploration of underutilized plant sources for novel starch extraction.
• Need for characterization of starch from aquatic macrophytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extract and characterize starch from narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) and lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) from Dal Lake.
• To evaluate the potential of these macrophytes as sustainable sources of industrial starch.
• To investigate the effects of ultrasonic processing on starch properties.

Main Methods:

• Starch extraction from selected macrophyte species.
• Proximate analysis (protein, fat content) and amylose content determination.
• Ultrasonic processing for nano-reduction and property enhancement.
• Analysis of particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential.

Main Results:

• High starch content (approx. 67%) was obtained from both narrowleaf cattail and lotus.
• Moderate amylose content (approx. 13.5%) suggests suitability for food industry applications.
• Ultrasonic nano-reduction improved colloidal stability and particle characteristics.
• Cattail starch showed higher protein and fat content than lotus starch.

Conclusions:

• Narrowleaf cattail and lotus are viable, sustainable sources of high-quality starch.
• Ultrasonic processing significantly enhances starch physicochemical properties for advanced applications.
• These findings support the utilization of local biodiversity for economic growth through value-added products.