Pulp was treated either by sonication or incubation with a multi-enzyme
mixture of cellulase and pectinase. Both methods were found to improve eciency of starch extraction by disrupting the complex
structure of polysaccharides associated with and entrapping starch granules. In the enzymatic treatment, the content of cellulase and
pectinase for high eciency of starch extraction determined as the yield of liberated starch was investigated using Response Surface
Methodology. Use of either cellulase or pectinase alone failed to eectively improve starch extraction. Cellulase concentration
seemed to have a greater eect on eciency of starch yield than pectinase concentration. Treatment of pulp with 15 Novo cellulase
units (NCU) of cellulase and 122.5 polygalacturonase (PG) units of pectinase per g dry pulp for 60 min resulted in 40% starch
recovery. Quality characteristics of the liberated starch, including paste viscosity (measured by Rapid Visco Analysis) and thermal
properties (measured by Dierential Scanning Calorimetry) were comparable to a primary starch obtained by root extraction.
Susceptibility of the liberated starch to a-amylase was inferior to that of a primary starch. Cellulase and pectinase, however, increased
a-amylase susceptibility of the starch remaining in the pulp. Ó 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.