High nitrogen discharge from the municipal wastewater is a major concern for the South Australian Government, primarily due to negative impacts on the marine environment. Therefore, under the South Australian Environmental Improvement Program, (SA EIP), all metropolitan wastewater treatment plants have been reconfigured to achieve enhanced nitrogen removal. Secondary treatment (denitrification process) at the metropolitan wastewater treatment plants must be optimised to meet the discharge guideline of 10 mg/L total nitrogen. However, secondary treatment at some plants is carbon limited (low C/N ratio), and external carbon supplementation is required to meet this discharge guideline. Molasses provides the current external carbon source at two plants. It is relatively inexpensive, but other carbon sources, particularly industrial waste streams, may be more attractive, due to the potentially lower material cost, as it is practically free, and environmentally friendly. Potato starch and sonicated return activated sludge (RAS) were considered. In this study, the bioavailability of the soluble carbon in potato starch and ultrasound treated RAS were assessed. The associated objective was to investigate the potential of both carbon sources as an external carbon donor for the denitrification zone of wastewater treatment plants to economically improve biological nitrogen removal. The economic analysis was performed using mainly United States dollars and the fixed capital investments and total capital costs were converted to Australian dollars. This was due to the United States dollars currency quotes obtained for the materials and unit operations required. SCOD from the three sources was quantified and preliminary results were presented. Molasses provided the highest SCOD release of 1.1285 x 10⁶ mg-SCOD/L, sonicated RAS produced 5.6 to 68.4 times the SCOD release of the untreated RAS (35.6 mg-SCOD/L) depending on the ultrasound intensity and treatment time, while the highest soluble carbon release obtained using potato starch was 809 mg-SCOD/L (using 20.9 g/100 mL potato starch concentration). Based on the experimental SCOD results, batch denitrification tests using the proposed carbon sources were carried out. The nitrogen removal efficiency at low dose (12.48 mg-SCOD/L) using molasses, potato starch and sonicated RAS were 77.54%, 57.24%, and 72.76% respectively, whilst at high dose (124.80 mg-SCOD/L) were 94.04%, 66.32%, and 92.10% correspondingly. In similar order of the proposed carbon sources, the nitrate removal rates for the first phase denitrification with low dose were 1.44, 1.16, and 1.18 mg-NO₃ − /h respectively, whilst the nitrate removal rate of the first phase denitrification with high dose improved to 2.01, 1.26, and 1.96 mg-NO₃ −/h correspondingly. From the denitrification test results, molasses proved to be the optimal carbon source in terms of nitrate removal. However sonicated RAS possesses similar denitrification performance and may be a suitable alternative. An economic analysis for sonicated RAS Option 2 confirmed it as the most viable substitute. The time to recover the initial investment (payback period) is approximately 6.5 years and the breakeven point is approximately 8 years. Both denitrification tests and economic analyses demonstrate that sonicated RAS may be a viable and attractive substitute for the molasses. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1337059 / Thesis (M.Eng.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2008

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / FormulaÃÃes de tapiocas elaboradas com amido de batata e de milho com e sem adiÃÃo de Estearoil-2-lactil-2-lactato de SÃdio (SSL), foram submetidas à anÃlise de perfil de textura, grau de gelatinizaÃÃo, teor de amido resistente e analisada sensorialmente tendo como padrÃo uma formulaÃÃo de uma tapioca de mandioca comercial. Foi verificado que a tapioca de mandioca apresentou o maior grau de gelatinizaÃÃo (61,63%) dentre as tapiocas formuladas com os outros amidos mencionados, bem como o maior teor de amido resistente (42,23%). Os perfis de textura (dureza, elasticidade, coesividade, mastigabilidade, forÃa mÃxima de corte e gomosidade) das tapiocas com e sem SSL num tempo de armazenamento de 48 horas nÃo apresentaram diferenÃas significativas(intervalo de confianÃa 95%) ao serem comparados. Para as tapiocas sem adiÃÃo de SSL, os parÃmetros do perfil de textura apresentaram as seguintes variaÃÃes de valores: dureza (20,0-140,0 N), elasticidade (0,75-0, 90), (Coesividade) (0,5-0,80) mastigabilidade (10-60N), ForÃa mÃxima de corte (50-300N) e gomosidade (15-35N) e para as tapiocas com adiÃÃo de SSL: dureza (10-140N), elasticidade, (0,75-0,95) Coesividade (0,40-0,90) mastigabilidade (5-55), ForÃa mÃxima de corte (50-250N) e gomosidade ((15-35N)). Os resultados da anÃlise sensorial indicaram os seguintes resultados para os atributos analisados: aroma, a tapioca de milho =7, 03, aparÃncia-tapioca de mandioca =6, 70, cor-tapioca de mandioca=6,90; sabor-tapioca de milho=6,63; textura-tapioca de mandioca=5,98 e impressÃo global-tapioca de milho=6,0. Dos resultados obtidos, podemos concluir que à possÃvel elaborar tapiocas com outros amidos com as mesmas caracterÃsticas da tapioca tradicional formulada a partir do amido de mandioca. / The tapiocas were maked wiht potato starch and corn starch with and without Sodium Stearoyl-2Lactylate (SSL). Were evaluated the texture profile, degree of gelatinization, resistant starch and sensory analyzed. The tapioca with cassava showed the biggest degree of gelatinization(61,63%) and resistant starch(42,23%). The texture profile (hardeness, springness, cohesiveness, chewiness, force and gumminess).with and without SSL, didnÂt show with storage of 48 hours significant deference. without SSL, hardeness (20,0-140,0 N), springness (0,75-0, 90), cohesiveness (0,5-0,80) chewiness (10-60N), force (50-300N) e gumminess, (15-35N) and the sample with SSL: hardeness (10-140N), springness (0,75-0,95) (cohesiveness (0,40-0,90 chewiness (5-55), force (50-250N) e gomosidade ((15-35N)). The results of sensory showed for attributes: flavor, the tapioca of corn =7, 03, aspect,-tapioca of cassava =6, 70, color-tapioca of cassava=6,90; savor,r-tapioca of corn=6,63; texture-tapioca of cassava=5,98 e print global-tapioca of corn=6,0. According to the outcomes obtained we can accomplish with the others starches with the same characteristics, of cassava

The growing negative impacts of non-biodegradable plastics derived from non-renewable materials have created increasing interest throughout the world for new materials that are both biodegradable and renewable, that can be combined with or replace traditional plastics. Plant-based thermoplastic starch (TPS), a promising alternative material to traditional petroleum based resin, is both biodegradable and renewable and has great potential for use in plastic manufacturing processes. Two major obstacles that prevent more widespread use of TPS include; TPS base material, which is typically manufactured in a flake or powder, is incompatible with standard plastics production equipment that require pelletized resin, the second reason is that TPS is difficult to mix with standard plastic materials such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). BiologiQ of Blackfoot Idaho through a unique manufacturing process has created a new type of TPS called EcoStarch™ Resin (ESR) that overcomes these two obstacles the material can be both pelletized and combined with various standard base plastics such as HDPE. This study evaluated and characterized the processability materials properties of ESR and HDPE blends in the Extrusion Blow Molding (EBM) by measuring wall thickness, tensile strength, tensile elongation, modulus of elongation and formability compared to 100% HDPE bottles. As the ESR content increased the uniformity of the wall thickness increased. The tensile strength increased from ESR content of 30% to 50% while the elongation decreased. Bottles were successfully extrusion blow molded with ESR content of 50%.

Embalagens de plástico expandido são utilizados como embalagens de alimentos, entre eles o poliestireno expandido (EPS). Suas principais características são a leveza e sua não biodegradabilidade. Estas embalagens geralmente são descartadas logo após o uso e geram grandes quantidades de resíduos. Espumas feitas a base de amido termoplástico (TPS) podem substituir o EPS nestes casos, pois são feitas a partir de fontes renováveis e são materiais biodegradáveis. Entretanto, embalagens de espuma TPS possuem grande afinidade pela água e isso consequentemente afeta seu uso. Uma forma de resolver este problema é recobrir estas espumas TPS com um material mais hidrofóbico, dificultando o contato da água com o amido. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver espumas de TPS de diferentes amidos e revesti-las com quitosana e poliácido láctico (PLA), pois também são materiais biodegradáveis e são menos hidrofílicos do que o amido. Três fontes de amido (batata, mandioca e milho) foram analisadas conjuntamente para produzir espumas TPS com propriedades mais desejáveis para embalagens. As espumas foram produzidas a partir de amido, glicerol e água nas proporções mássicas de 62/5/33, respectivamente. Dentre os tipos de amido escolhidos, a espuma TPS de milho mostrou ser mais densa e rígida, apresentando maior densidade e maior módulo elástico (0,20 g/cm3 e 106 MPa, respectivamente) em comparação com espumas TPS de batata (0,11 g/cm3 e 39 MPa) e mandioca (0,10 g/cm3 e 39 MPa). A espuma TPS de batata apresentou maior flexibilidade e resistência ao impacto, e devido a estas vantagens é a mais adequada ao uso em embalagens. Os recobrimentos de quitosana e PLA diminuíram a absorção de água da espuma TPS. Enquanto que a espuma sem recobrimento absorveu aproximadamente 280% do seu peso em água, espumas TPS com 6% m/v de quitosana absorveram 100% e espumas TPS com 6% m/v de PLA absorveram 50% em média. O PLA mostrou ser a melhor opção de recobrimento para as espumas pois apresentou os menores valores de absorção de água e aumentou as propriedades mecânicas da espuma. / The expanded polystyrene (EPS) is used in a variety of food packaging, mainly in packages whose characteristics is the single use. These packages are usually discarded soon and generate large amounts of waste. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) foams can replace the EPS in these cases, because it comes from renewable and biodegradable sources. However, starch packaging has great affinity for water and it affects its use. One way to solve this problem is to cover the TPS foam with a more hydrophobic material, hindering the contact of water with starch. In this work, chitosan and polylactic acid (PLA) were used as coatings, as they are also biodegradable materials and are more hydrophobic than starch. Three sources of starch (potato, cassava and corn) were analyzed conjointly to produce TPS foams with more desirable properties for packaging. The foams were made from starch, glycerol and water in the proportion of 62/5/33 (% m/m) respectively. Among the starch types used, corn TPS foam presented higher density and higher stiffness (0,20 g/cm3 and 106 MPa, respectively) compared to potato (0,11 g/cm3 and 39 MPa) and cassava (0,10 g/cm3 e 39 MPa) TPS foams. The potato TPS foam showed greater flexibility and impact resistance, and due to these advantages is the most suitable for use in packaging. The chitosan and PLA coatings decreased the water absorption of the TPS foam. While the uncoated TPS foam absorbed approximately 280% of its weight in water, TPS foams with 6% w/v chitosan absorbed 100% and TPS foams with 6% m / v PLA absorbed 50% on average. The PLA was found to be the best option for coating the TPS foams because presented the lowest water absorption values and increased the mechanical properties of the foams.

Starch modification is a widely employed and important technique, allowing to obtain ingredients with different characteristics, expanding the range of applications of starches and bringing competitive advantages for different industries. Despite the production of toxic residues, and despite the increasing concern about environmental issues, the use of chemical agents in starch modification by oxidation is still very popular. Ozone can be a solution to change it, since is a very powerful oxidising agent that can be quickly decomposed into oxygen, whose residues meet the global demand for sustainability. Therefore, it can be a safer alternative for both consumers and environment. In this work the use of ozone in aqueous solution as a starch modification method was evaluated. The effects of the different ozonation times on the structure and properties of the potato starch were investigated. With increasing the ozonation time, it was observed an increase in the carbonyl, carboxyl and reducing sugar contents, as well as a decrease in the pH, apparent amylose content and molecular size, demonstrating that the potato starch processed with ozone was modified in its molecular level. Further, X-ray diffraction analysis showed no significant changes in the relative crystallinity of the granules, while in the microscopy analysis it was observed some alterations in the granules morphology. All these changes directly affected the modified starch properties, resulting in significant differences in the pasting properties, gel texture and paste clarity. The obtained results are promising, since they can prove the effectiveness of using ozone, a still little explored and sustainable method, as an efficient oxidizing agent for starch modification. / Modificação de amidos é uma técnica amplamente empregada e muito importante, permitindo a obtenção de ingredientes com diferentes características, ampliando a gama de aplicação dos amidos e trazendo vantagens competitivas para diferentes indústrias. Apesar da produção de resíduos tóxicos, e apesar da crescente preocupação com as questões ambientais, o uso de agentes químicos na modificação de amidos ainda é muito popular. O ozônio pode ser uma alternativa para mudar este cenário, uma vez que é um poderoso agente oxidante que pode ser rapidamente decomposto em oxigênio, cujos resíduos vão de encontro com a demanda global por sustentabilidade. Portanto, esta pode ser uma alternativa mais segura tanto para os consumidores quanto para o meio ambiente. Neste trabalho avaliou-se o uso de ozônio em solução aquosa como método de modificação de amido. Foram investigados os efeitos de diferentes tempos de ozonização na estrutura e nas propriedades do amido de batata. Com o aumento do tempo de ozonização, foram observados aumento nos teores de carbonila, carboxila e açúcares redutores e diminuição no pH, no teor de amilose aparente e no tamanho molecular, demonstrando que o amido de batata processado com ozônio foi modificado a nível molecular. Além disso, análises de difração de raio-X não mostraram alterações significativas na cristalinidade relativa dos grânulos, enquanto nas análises de microscopia foram observadas algumas alterações na morfologia dos grânulos. Todas estas alterações afetaram diretamente as propriedades do amido modificado, resultando em diferenças significativas nas propriedades de pasta, textura de gel e claridade de pasta. Os resultados obtidos são bastante promissores, uma vez que provam a eficácia de se utilizar o ozônio, um método sustentável e ainda pouco explorado, como um eficaz agente oxidante para a modificação de amido.

Os reatores anaeróbios de tratamento de esgoto possibilitam elevada remoção de matéria orgânica, com menor custo em comparação com os processos aeróbios. Entretanto, esses reatores geralmente são pouco eficientes na remoção de nutrientes e seu efluente pode apresentar valores relativamente elevados de DQO e de sólidos suspensos. Por isso, investigou-se a aplicação de cloreto férrico e auxiliares de floculação no afluente de um reator anaeróbio de leito expandido em escala real (Volume = 32 m3; TDH = 3,2 h), no intuito de elevar as eficiências de remoção de DQO, turbidez, fósforo e sólidos. Foram realizados testes de Atividade Metanogênica para avaliar a toxicidade do cloreto férrico ao lodo do reator, mas nenhum efeito tóxico foi detectado para concentrações de até 500 mg FeCl3/l. Em seguida, foram realizados testes em reator de bancada (jar test), quando foi investigado o uso de cloreto férrico (dosagens entre 40 e 200 mg/l) em conjunto com um polímero catiônico, um polímero aniônico e amido natural de batata (dosagens entre 0,5 e 2,0 mg/l), sendo obtidos os melhores resultados com cloreto férrico e polímero aniônico. As eficiências médias diárias de remoção no reator de leito expandido foram elevadas de 64% para 71%, para DQO; de 47% para 59%, para turbidez; de 17% para 31%, para fósforo; e de 52% para 77%, para SST, quando aplicadas dosagens de 40 mg/l de cloreto férrico e 1,0 mg/l de polímero aniônico. / Anaerobic reactors for wastewater treatment have high capacity in removing organic matter and lower costs in comparison with aerobic processes. Nevertheless, anaerobic reactors generally are less efficient in nutrient removal and their effluents may present relatively high COD and total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations. Hence, the application of ferric chloride (FeCl3) and flocculant aids to a full-scale (Volume = 32 m3; HRT = 3,2 h) anaerobic expanded bed reactor influent was investigated to improve removal of COD, turbidity, phosphorous and solids. Methanogenic activity tests were conducted to evaluate toxicity of ferric chloride against methanogenic anaerobic reactor sludge. Tests showed that no toxic effect occurred before concentrations of FeCl3 reached 500 mg/l. Conventional bench-scale jar tests were conducted and ferric chloride was tested in combination with a cationic polymer, an anionic polymer and natural potato starch. Best results were obtained when ferric chloride was employed with anionic polymer. Average daily removal rates were increased from 64% to 71% for COD, from 47% to 59% for turbidity, from 17% to 31% for phosphorous and from 52% to 77% for TSS when dosages close to 40 mg/l of ferric chloride and 1,0 mg/l of anionic polymer were applied to anaerobic expanded bed reactor influent.

This study investigated pressure-induced starch gelatinisation in water and milk suspensions. A rheological method, termed ‘pasting curves’, provided an objective and analytical means to determine the degree of pressure-induced starch gelatinisation. In addition, a polarised light microscope was used to observe birefringence of the starch granules and the degree of starch swelling was measured. The preliminary investigation into pressure-induced gelatinisation of six different starches showed that potato starch was the most pressure resistant and was not gelatinised after a pressure treatment of 600 MPa for 30 min at 20 °C. Waxy rice, waxy corn and tapioca starches showed complete gelatinisation after the same treatment while normal rice and normal corn starches were only partially gelatinised despite the disappearance of birefringence. Based on the preliminary study, two starches (normal and waxy rice starches) were selected for more detailed studies. The effects of treatment conditions (pressure, temperature and duration) on the gelatinisation were investigated with these selected starches. The degree of gelatinisation was dependent on the type of starch and the treatment conditions. The results also indicated that different combinations of the treatment conditions (e.g. high treatment pressure for a short time and low treatment pressure for a longer time) could result in the same degree of gelatinisation. Both starch types exhibited sigmoidal-shaped pressure-induced gelatinisation curves and there was a linear correlation between the degree of swelling and the apparent viscosity of the starch suspension. After treatments at =500 MPa for 30 min at 20 °C, both starches lost all birefringence although the apparent viscosity and the degree of swelling of normal rice starch did not increase to the same extent as observed in waxy rice starch. Pressure-induced gelatinisation of starch was retarded when starch was suspended in skim milk. This was attributed to the effect of soluble milk minerals and lactose present in the milk whereas milk proteins (casein and whey) did not affect the degree of gelatinisation at the levels present in 10% total solids skim milk. The presence of soluble milk and/or lactose may lead to less effective plasticising of starch chains by the suspension medium. Interactions between milk components and starch molecules may also play a role in retarding gelatinisation by reducing the mobility of starch chains. The functionality of starch in a dairy application was tested using acid milk gels as a model system. Skim milk with added starch (waxy rice or potato starch) was either pressure treated (500 MPa, 20°C, 30 min) or heat treated (80°C, 30 min) and subsequently acidified to form acid milk gels. The addition of waxy rice starch resulted in firmer acid milk gels, and increasing the amount of starch caused an increase in the firmness of both pressure-treated and heat-treated samples. However, pressure-treated samples with added potato starch did not show significant changes in the firmness whereas the heat-treated counterparts showed a marked increase in the firmness as the level of potato starch increased. The difference between the effects of the two different starches can be explained by the extent of starch gelatinisation in skim milk. Starch granules absorb water during gelatinisation whether induced by pressure or heat which effectively increases milk protein concentration in the aqueous phase to form a denser protein gel network on acidification. The firmness of acid milk gels can be increased by adjusting the pH at pressure or heat treatment to higher than the natural pH of milk. The effect of pH at pressure or heat treatment and addition of starch on the acid milk gel firmness was additive and independent of each other up to a starch addition level of 1%. This study provided an insight into pressure-induced gelatinisation of starch by showing gelatinisation properties of starches of different botanical origins and the effects of the treatment conditions (treatment pressure, treatment temperature and duration) on the degree of gelatinisation. Furthermore, the results from the pressure treatments of starch in dairy-based suspensions showed that pressure-induced gelatinisation was affected by other components in the system. These results demonstrate the importance of understanding the gelatinisation properties of starch in complicated food systems in which a number of other components are present. In terms of the application of starch in dairy systems, when starch was added to milk and gelatinised by pressure treatment, the acid milk gel produced by subsequent acidification was firmer than the acid milk gel made from skim milk alone.

This study investigated pressure-induced starch gelatinisation in water and milk suspensions. A rheological method, termed ‘pasting curves’, provided an objective and analytical means to determine the degree of pressure-induced starch gelatinisation. In addition, a polarised light microscope was used to observe birefringence of the starch granules and the degree of starch swelling was measured. The preliminary investigation into pressure-induced gelatinisation of six different starches showed that potato starch was the most pressure resistant and was not gelatinised after a pressure treatment of 600 MPa for 30 min at 20 °C. Waxy rice, waxy corn and tapioca starches showed complete gelatinisation after the same treatment while normal rice and normal corn starches were only partially gelatinised despite the disappearance of birefringence. Based on the preliminary study, two starches (normal and waxy rice starches) were selected for more detailed studies. The effects of treatment conditions (pressure, temperature and duration) on the gelatinisation were investigated with these selected starches. The degree of gelatinisation was dependent on the type of starch and the treatment conditions. The results also indicated that different combinations of the treatment conditions (e.g. high treatment pressure for a short time and low treatment pressure for a longer time) could result in the same degree of gelatinisation. Both starch types exhibited sigmoidal-shaped pressure-induced gelatinisation curves and there was a linear correlation between the degree of swelling and the apparent viscosity of the starch suspension. After treatments at =500 MPa for 30 min at 20 °C, both starches lost all birefringence although the apparent viscosity and the degree of swelling of normal rice starch did not increase to the same extent as observed in waxy rice starch. Pressure-induced gelatinisation of starch was retarded when starch was suspended in skim milk. This was attributed to the effect of soluble milk minerals and lactose present in the milk whereas milk proteins (casein and whey) did not affect the degree of gelatinisation at the levels present in 10% total solids skim milk. The presence of soluble milk and/or lactose may lead to less effective plasticising of starch chains by the suspension medium. Interactions between milk components and starch molecules may also play a role in retarding gelatinisation by reducing the mobility of starch chains. The functionality of starch in a dairy application was tested using acid milk gels as a model system. Skim milk with added starch (waxy rice or potato starch) was either pressure treated (500 MPa, 20°C, 30 min) or heat treated (80°C, 30 min) and subsequently acidified to form acid milk gels. The addition of waxy rice starch resulted in firmer acid milk gels, and increasing the amount of starch caused an increase in the firmness of both pressure-treated and heat-treated samples. However, pressure-treated samples with added potato starch did not show significant changes in the firmness whereas the heat-treated counterparts showed a marked increase in the firmness as the level of potato starch increased. The difference between the effects of the two different starches can be explained by the extent of starch gelatinisation in skim milk. Starch granules absorb water during gelatinisation whether induced by pressure or heat which effectively increases milk protein concentration in the aqueous phase to form a denser protein gel network on acidification. The firmness of acid milk gels can be increased by adjusting the pH at pressure or heat treatment to higher than the natural pH of milk. The effect of pH at pressure or heat treatment and addition of starch on the acid milk gel firmness was additive and independent of each other up to a starch addition level of 1%. This study provided an insight into pressure-induced gelatinisation of starch by showing gelatinisation properties of starches of different botanical origins and the effects of the treatment conditions (treatment pressure, treatment temperature and duration) on the degree of gelatinisation. Furthermore, the results from the pressure treatments of starch in dairy-based suspensions showed that pressure-induced gelatinisation was affected by other components in the system. These results demonstrate the importance of understanding the gelatinisation properties of starch in complicated food systems in which a number of other components are present. In terms of the application of starch in dairy systems, when starch was added to milk and gelatinised by pressure treatment, the acid milk gel produced by subsequent acidification was firmer than the acid milk gel made from skim milk alone.

This study investigated pressure-induced starch gelatinisation in water and milk suspensions. A rheological method, termed ‘pasting curves’, provided an objective and analytical means to determine the degree of pressure-induced starch gelatinisation. In addition, a polarised light microscope was used to observe birefringence of the starch granules and the degree of starch swelling was measured. The preliminary investigation into pressure-induced gelatinisation of six different starches showed that potato starch was the most pressure resistant and was not gelatinised after a pressure treatment of 600 MPa for 30 min at 20 °C. Waxy rice, waxy corn and tapioca starches showed complete gelatinisation after the same treatment while normal rice and normal corn starches were only partially gelatinised despite the disappearance of birefringence. Based on the preliminary study, two starches (normal and waxy rice starches) were selected for more detailed studies. The effects of treatment conditions (pressure, temperature and duration) on the gelatinisation were investigated with these selected starches. The degree of gelatinisation was dependent on the type of starch and the treatment conditions. The results also indicated that different combinations of the treatment conditions (e.g. high treatment pressure for a short time and low treatment pressure for a longer time) could result in the same degree of gelatinisation. Both starch types exhibited sigmoidal-shaped pressure-induced gelatinisation curves and there was a linear correlation between the degree of swelling and the apparent viscosity of the starch suspension. After treatments at =500 MPa for 30 min at 20 °C, both starches lost all birefringence although the apparent viscosity and the degree of swelling of normal rice starch did not increase to the same extent as observed in waxy rice starch. Pressure-induced gelatinisation of starch was retarded when starch was suspended in skim milk. This was attributed to the effect of soluble milk minerals and lactose present in the milk whereas milk proteins (casein and whey) did not affect the degree of gelatinisation at the levels present in 10% total solids skim milk. The presence of soluble milk and/or lactose may lead to less effective plasticising of starch chains by the suspension medium. Interactions between milk components and starch molecules may also play a role in retarding gelatinisation by reducing the mobility of starch chains. The functionality of starch in a dairy application was tested using acid milk gels as a model system. Skim milk with added starch (waxy rice or potato starch) was either pressure treated (500 MPa, 20°C, 30 min) or heat treated (80°C, 30 min) and subsequently acidified to form acid milk gels. The addition of waxy rice starch resulted in firmer acid milk gels, and increasing the amount of starch caused an increase in the firmness of both pressure-treated and heat-treated samples. However, pressure-treated samples with added potato starch did not show significant changes in the firmness whereas the heat-treated counterparts showed a marked increase in the firmness as the level of potato starch increased. The difference between the effects of the two different starches can be explained by the extent of starch gelatinisation in skim milk. Starch granules absorb water during gelatinisation whether induced by pressure or heat which effectively increases milk protein concentration in the aqueous phase to form a denser protein gel network on acidification. The firmness of acid milk gels can be increased by adjusting the pH at pressure or heat treatment to higher than the natural pH of milk. The effect of pH at pressure or heat treatment and addition of starch on the acid milk gel firmness was additive and independent of each other up to a starch addition level of 1%. This study provided an insight into pressure-induced gelatinisation of starch by showing gelatinisation properties of starches of different botanical origins and the effects of the treatment conditions (treatment pressure, treatment temperature and duration) on the degree of gelatinisation. Furthermore, the results from the pressure treatments of starch in dairy-based suspensions showed that pressure-induced gelatinisation was affected by other components in the system. These results demonstrate the importance of understanding the gelatinisation properties of starch in complicated food systems in which a number of other components are present. In terms of the application of starch in dairy systems, when starch was added to milk and gelatinised by pressure treatment, the acid milk gel produced by subsequent acidification was firmer than the acid milk gel made from skim milk alone.

Embalagens de plástico expandido são utilizados como embalagens de alimentos, entre eles o poliestireno expandido (EPS). Suas principais características são a leveza e sua não biodegradabilidade. Estas embalagens geralmente são descartadas logo após o uso e geram grandes quantidades de resíduos. Espumas feitas a base de amido termoplástico (TPS) podem substituir o EPS nestes casos, pois são feitas a partir de fontes renováveis e são materiais biodegradáveis. Entretanto, embalagens de espuma TPS possuem grande afinidade pela água e isso consequentemente afeta seu uso. Uma forma de resolver este problema é recobrir estas espumas TPS com um material mais hidrofóbico, dificultando o contato da água com o amido. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver espumas de TPS de diferentes amidos e revesti-las com quitosana e poliácido láctico (PLA), pois também são materiais biodegradáveis e são menos hidrofílicos do que o amido. Três fontes de amido (batata, mandioca e milho) foram analisadas conjuntamente para produzir espumas TPS com propriedades mais desejáveis para embalagens. As espumas foram produzidas a partir de amido, glicerol e água nas proporções mássicas de 62/5/33, respectivamente. Dentre os tipos de amido escolhidos, a espuma TPS de milho mostrou ser mais densa e rígida, apresentando maior densidade e maior módulo elástico (0,20 g/cm3 e 106 MPa, respectivamente) em comparação com espumas TPS de batata (0,11 g/cm3 e 39 MPa) e mandioca (0,10 g/cm3 e 39 MPa). A espuma TPS de batata apresentou maior flexibilidade e resistência ao impacto, e devido a estas vantagens é a mais adequada ao uso em embalagens. Os recobrimentos de quitosana e PLA diminuíram a absorção de água da espuma TPS. Enquanto que a espuma sem recobrimento absorveu aproximadamente 280% do seu peso em água, espumas TPS com 6% m/v de quitosana absorveram 100% e espumas TPS com 6% m/v de PLA absorveram 50% em média. O PLA mostrou ser a melhor opção de recobrimento para as espumas pois apresentou os menores valores de absorção de água e aumentou as propriedades mecânicas da espuma. / The expanded polystyrene (EPS) is used in a variety of food packaging, mainly in packages whose characteristics is the single use. These packages are usually discarded soon and generate large amounts of waste. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) foams can replace the EPS in these cases, because it comes from renewable and biodegradable sources. However, starch packaging has great affinity for water and it affects its use. One way to solve this problem is to cover the TPS foam with a more hydrophobic material, hindering the contact of water with starch. In this work, chitosan and polylactic acid (PLA) were used as coatings, as they are also biodegradable materials and are more hydrophobic than starch. Three sources of starch (potato, cassava and corn) were analyzed conjointly to produce TPS foams with more desirable properties for packaging. The foams were made from starch, glycerol and water in the proportion of 62/5/33 (% m/m) respectively. Among the starch types used, corn TPS foam presented higher density and higher stiffness (0,20 g/cm3 and 106 MPa, respectively) compared to potato (0,11 g/cm3 and 39 MPa) and cassava (0,10 g/cm3 e 39 MPa) TPS foams. The potato TPS foam showed greater flexibility and impact resistance, and due to these advantages is the most suitable for use in packaging. The chitosan and PLA coatings decreased the water absorption of the TPS foam. While the uncoated TPS foam absorbed approximately 280% of its weight in water, TPS foams with 6% w/v chitosan absorbed 100% and TPS foams with 6% m / v PLA absorbed 50% on average. The PLA was found to be the best option for coating the TPS foams because presented the lowest water absorption values and increased the mechanical properties of the foams.