Starch plasticization with choline dihydrogencitrate-based deep eutectic system

Abstract

Two-component deep eutectic solvents (DES) based on choline dihydrogencitrate and glycerol or urea were tested as starch plasticizers. Thermal analysis techniques were applied to characterize the properties of starch/DES systems. The X-ray diffractometry measurements revealed a significant decrease in crystallinity indicating that used DES exhibited the ability to penetrate the ordered regions of potato starch, which is a necessary feature of a true plasticizer. However, the differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic thermal analysis results surprisingly showed an increase of Tg of starch materials indicating chemical crosslinking at elevated temperature. The eutectic solvents based on choline dihydrogencitrate could act as a plasticizer and a simultaneously crosslinking agent.

Keywords

• potato starch
• deep eutectic solvents
• starch plasticizing
• choline dihydrogencitrate
• thermal analysis