Starch-based Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites: Chemistry, Processing, and Applications

In recent years, much attention has been focused on biodegradable polymers from renewable resources. Due to its availability and low cost, starch is a promising candidate among biopolymers for use in biodegradable packaging materials and for other purposes. Starch-Based Polymeric Materials and Nanocomposites: Chemistry, Processing, and Applications presents the latest developments in starch chemistry, rheology, starch derivatives, starch-based nanocomposites, and their applications.

Topics discussed include:

• The chemistry, microstructure, processing, and enzymatic degradation of starch
• The importance and role of starch as a gelling agent
• Plasticization and the role of plasticizers
• Various rheological techniques applied to starch-related products and the characteristics of starch dispersions
• Polymeric aspects of reactive extrusion (REX) and its use on starch and other biopolymers
• Cyclodextrins (CDs) and their industrial applications, and CD-based supramole and polymers
• The potential of starch in food packaging, edible packaging, feedstock for bioproducts, and industrial and consumer products
• The theoretical basis and derivation of the mathematical model for multicomponent systems and its solution algorithm

The book also explores recent progress in biodegradable starch-based hybrids and nanomaterials and the incorporation of nanoparticles in starches to enhance their mechanical and thermal properties. The book concludes by discussing the use of biopolymeric nanoparticles (BNPs) in drug delivery and life cycle assessment (LCA) of starch-based polymeric materials for packaging and allied applications.

With contributions from leading experts in academia and industry, this volume demonstrates the versatility of starch and its potential in a variety of applications.

Dr. Jasim Ahmed’s research interests include food product development, food rheology and structure, novel food processing, and the thermal behavior of foods. His current focus is on bionanocomposites and application to food packaging.

Dr. Brijesh Tiwari’s

main research accomplishments are in the areas of novel food processing and preservation technologies, grain processing, and mathematical modeling of food processes.

Dr. Syed H. Imam

conducts research to enhance the utilization of agriculturally derived renewable polymers for nonfood applications as an alternative to petroleum chemicals and provides fundamental knowledge in the development of polymer-based materials of tailored properties.

Dr. M.A. Rao’s

main research interest is in rheological properties of foods: principles, measurement, and applications.