Starch to value added biochemicals

An in-depth review on the catalytic transformation of starch to a remarkable breadth of products is discussed. The physicochemical properties of starches from different varieties are reported to influence their functionality. However, the impact of such properties on the reaction parameters for the cost-effective production of selective chemicals is largely unexplored. With the emergence of ionic liquids as the reaction media, water insoluble starch biopolymer can be easily dissolved and converted to reaction products simultaneously. Furthermore, microwave assisted chemical synthesis is known to enhance the reaction rates and optimize the resultant product selectivity. Physical and chemical modifications of starch also plays a vital role in the production of commodity chemicals. Recently, the potential routes to the production of biochemicals from biomass like glucaric acid, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, 2,5-diformylfuran, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 2,5-dimethylfuran, levulinic acid and sorbitol have been studied. Similar promising routes from inexpensive starches are analyzed in the review, as a function of the challenges associated to their chemical pathways and scalability.