. The CLTS was prepared by cross-linking native tapioca starch suspended in alkaline solution (41.67% (w/w), pH 11) using a mixture (99:1 (w/w)ratio) of sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) at different concentra-tions ranged from 0.25% to 6.0% (w/w of starch) at 45◦C for 3 h.