| Abstract: | The effects of extrusion variables (moisture, screw speed, and temperature) and chemicals (urea and sodium bicarbonate) on the properties of starch-based binders (water absorption, bulk density, binder yield, expansion ratio, solubility, pH) and processing conditions (die temperature and pressure, feed rate, and specific mechanical energy) were studied using a central composite design. All quadratic regression models, except the models for bulk density and pH, were significant at the P ≤ 0.06 level. These models can predict the binder properties and processing conditions when extrusion variables and the chemical concentrations are known. Optimum combinations of the chemical concentrations (g/100 g of starch) and extrusion variables to achieve high water absorption in the binders were 15–20 g of urea /100 g of starch, 0–4 g of sodium bicarbonate/100 g of starch, 35–40 g of moisture/100 g of starch, 100–120 rpm screw speed, and 185–215°C barrel temperature. The molecular degradation of the starch occurred during extrusion, especially when the moisture content of starch was <30 g/100 g of starch. |
