Novel Applications of Potatoes
The exceptional physicochemical and compositional characteristics of potatoes and their starches make them useful for a wide variety of novel and nonfood applications. The potential of potatoes for industrial scale use is being explored in areas such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, paper, biodegradable packaging, and automobiles. Many studies suggest the use of potato industry waste for the production of valuable products such as biodegradable cutlery, packaging materials, xanthan gum, biosurfactants, polylactic acid (PLA) etc. Fiber reinforced PLA composite materials have been reportedly used in making interior components for automobiles. Because of the higher cost of production of these plastics compared to those of petroleum origin, development of an efficient production technology is required. Potato starch based bioplastics are increasingly becoming popular owing to their biodegradability and good physical properties. The characteristics of potato starch such as swelling power, solubility, gelatinization, rheological characteristics, and mechanical behavior are of utmost importance when selecting a starch source for a distinctive application. Worldwide industrial players are making vast investments in bio based technologies and processing plants, with an expectation of establishing a multibillion dollar industry.