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Starch saccharification

Conversion of plant starch to various sugars

All plants consist to a greater or lesser extent of starches, which are composed of various chemically linked sugars (saccharides). If these chemical links are broken, the starch breaks down into its individual sugar components. This means that sugar can be obtained from plant starch as well as from sugar cane and sugar beet. Today this is done on an industrial scale in the starch saccharification process.

The most important plants for supplying starch for this process are maize, potatoes and wheat.

Whereas in the past, powerful acids were used to separate the starch into its individual sugars, today this is achieved almost exclusively with enzymes. Enzymes are highly specific and can separate the linked starch molecules at specific sites. This means that the saccharification process can be controlled precisely.

Today, nearly all enzymes used in starch saccharification – with a few exceptions – are obtained with the help of genetically modified micro-organisms.