Ionic liquids as solvents for dissolution of corn starch and homogeneous synthesis of fatty-acid starch esters without catalysts

Ionic liquids (ILs) utilized for dispersing cellulose have gained increasing attention in recent years, but the number of the reports using ILs for starch is still limited. In this study, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) and 1-ethyl-3-methlyimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]AC) were used to dispersing corn starch. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a traditional organic solvent for starch, was added into [BMIM]Cl, and the mixture of [BMIM]Cl/DMSO was utilized for dispersing corn starch as well. Results showed that the starch granules dispersed in ILs was much smaller than native starch granules, and large starch aggregates were partially formed. Starch granules dispersed in [BMIM]Cl at 100 °C for 60 min remained less crystallinity than native starch granules, while it was disappeared when starch granules were dispersed in [EMIM]AC at 100 °C for 60 min. Homogenous synthesis of fatty-acid starch esters without catalysts in these ILs was also studied. The degree of substitution (DS) value of starch laurate was reached to 0.053, 0.068 and 0.100 in [BMIM]Cl, [EMIM]AC and the mixture of [BMIM]Cl/DMSO, respectively, at the reaction conditions of lauric acid/AGU molar ratio 1:5, temperature 120 °C at a reaction time of 3 h.