Isolation of plantain starch on a large laboratory scale

Isolating starch from botanical sources has been widely reported on a small laboratory scale for characterization. However, isolation processes on a large laboratory scale intended for up-scaling have rarely been studied. In general, the laboratory-scale processes studied are batch processes, which limit the production rate for intensive commercialization. This work studied a large, laboratory-scale process for isolating starch from plantain fruits. The process is simple and involves a series of inclined sieves for separating solids and liquids. Hard green (unripe) pre-climacteric plantains (Musa paradisiaca L.) were collected and divided into four lots to evaluate the process. Analyses based on SEM, particle size distribution, X-ray diffraction, and thermal properties showed the reproducibility of the process, which exhibited an acceptable isolation yield (approximately 50%), purity (approximately 90%), and moisture content (approximately 5%). Moreover, the amount of damaged starch was not higher than 1.53/100 g.