Eastern Visayas State University

Salazar St. Downtown, Tacloban, City

LABORATORY SCALE PRODUCTION OF DEXTROSE FROM GIANT

SWAMP TARO (Cyrtosperma merkusii)

By

April Joyce S. Abejo

Fundamentals of Material Science and Engineering (CHE 283)

Engr. Evelyn Cardoso

May 2021
Objectives:

1. Extract starch from Taro using a physical extraction process.

2. Convert taro starch to glucose syrup using enzymatic hydrolysis.

3. Conduct laboratory tests (if attainable) to determine if the product produced meets
the specification of dextrose on:

A. Moisture

B. pH; and

C. DE (dextrose equivalent)

4. Scale up the dextrose production from laboratory to industrial scale.

Polymeric materials are the most widely used packaging materials worldwide,
though paper and board, aluminum, glass, and biomaterials such as vegetable leaves
are also used. Plastics are used to package the majority of the food that is processed,
distributed, and transported throughout the market. Plastics have a lot of benefits, but
they also have a lot of risks associated with them and their intended use.

The aim of food packaging is to contain food in a cost-effective manner that

meets industry and customer demands, ensures food safety, and has a low
environmental impact. However, for polymeric materials to be used in the packaging of
food and beverages, it must meet three primary specifications. First, it should have
sufficient strength in terms of tensile, tear, and impact. It means that a material should
be able to withstand a maximum amount of stress before failing or cracking when
stretched or pulled. Second, it should have barrier protection - it should not allow
oxygen, water vapor, or carbon dioxide to pass through (ie. for carbonated drinks). And
lastly, the material should avoid reacting to the contents of the food/drink; as this can
jeopardize the food or drink's quality and safety.

With regard to strength, polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) and oriented

polypropylene (OPP) have high tensile strengths; linear low-density polyethylene
(LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) have high tear strengths. The polymers
having the best impact strengths are PET and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Relative to barrier characteristics, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and

polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) copolymers are relatively impermeable to oxygen and
carbon dioxide, whereas high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinylidene chloride,
polypropylene, and LDPE are impervious to water vapor

Most common polymers are relatively unreactive with food products, and are
considered safe; there are, however, some exceptions, such as acrylonitrile and
plasticizers used in PVC materials, which can result in the production of toxic
by-products.

Some specific materials that are used in food packaging are as follows: PET(E)
or for soda pop containers - it is the preferred resin for packaging soda because of its
strong gas barrier properties. Soda manufacturers/bottlers use PET bottles because
they’re cheaper than glass or aluminum, and can withstand the pressure built up when
you store soda in them, which is around 379 kPa or 55psi. Other plastic bottles (like the
ones used for bottled water) wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure and would burst.

PVDC are used in packing poultry, cured meats, cheese, snack foods, etc. since
it’s heat sealable and an excellent barrier to water vapor, fatty and oily products.

On the other hand, LDPE and HDPE films are used for packaging bread and
bakery products. It's a very flexible material with unique flow properties that makes it
particularly suitable for shopping bags and other plastic film applications.

In conclusion, food and beverage packaging is extremely essential in the food

industry. Food is preserved by packaging and is protected from distribution hazards
because of their mechanical strength, cost effectiveness, and ease of manufacture.
Despite the benefits, food packagers should always take into account and use
sustainable and safe materials to avoid harmful contamination not only for the safety of
humans, but also of our environment.