Effects of extraction method on chemical composition and functional properties of yam starch (Dioscorea alata)

Abstract

Yam tubers (Dioscorea alata) are a non-traditional starch source. Yam starch had been studied as a promising polymer for biofilm production because it contains about 30% of amylose, and amylose is responsible for the film-forming capacity of starches. Starches obtained from yam tubers were extracted employing two different methods and its chemical and functional characteristics and film forming capacity were analysed. The first method, described by Alves, Grossmann e Silva (1999) was executed in 6 days, generating from yam tubers 7% of yam starch with purity grade up to 95%. The second method, described by Cereda et al. (2003), yielded 13% of yam starch with purity grade around 84% and was developed in three days. Brabender amylograms showed that starch pastes maintained stability under heat treatment with lower viscosity values to the starch obtained by second extraction method. In film forming capacity, both starches presented similar results, forming films with high tensile strength, but the starch obtained by second extraction method formed films with high opacity values. To industry use, the second method seemed to be more appropriate, because had a higher yield and required fewer time.