Corn Starch

Corn Starch, also called maize starch, is a fine, white, odourless powder extracted from the endosperm of maize kernels. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in the world, found in soups and sauces, tablets and capsules, paper, textiles, adhesives and cosmetics.

Arizone International supplies Corn Starch in food, pharmaceutical and industrial grades for food processors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, cosmetic brands, paper and textile units, wholesalers and exporters.

How Corn Starch Is Made

Corn starch is produced by a process called wet milling. Maize kernels are soaked (steeped) in warm water to soften them, then ground to separate the germ, which is used for corn oil, from the fibre and protein. The remaining starch slurry is washed, refined, dewatered and dried into a fine powder. Useful co-products such as corn gluten meal, gluten feed and corn oil are also produced. India has a large maize starch industry, with plants in states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

In India and the UK, corn starch is often sold as "cornflour", while in the United States cornflour usually means finely ground whole maize. Buyers should confirm which product they mean.

Composition and Properties

• Amylose and AmylopectinRegular corn starch contains about 25% amylose and 75% amylopectin. Waxy maize starch is almost pure amylopectin.
• Thickening PowerWhen heated in water, the starch granules swell and gelatinise, thickening the liquid. On cooling, regular corn starch forms a firm, opaque gel.
• Neutral Taste and ColourIt does not change the flavour of foods.
• Naturally Gluten-FreeMaize starch contains no gluten, though cross-contact should be managed for gluten-free claims.

Applications

• Thickener for soups, sauces, gravies, custards and puddings
• Bakery, confectionery, snacks and batters for crisp frying
• Pharmaceutical excipient: filler, binder and disintegrant in tablets and capsules (IP/BP/USP grades)
• Cosmetics: body powders, dry shampoos and oil-absorbing products
• Paper making, textile sizing and corrugated board adhesives
• Raw material for glucose syrup, dextrose, sorbitol and bio-based plastics

Native and Modified Starches

Native corn starch is used as it is. Modified starches are treated physically, enzymatically or chemically to improve properties such as freeze-thaw stability, heat and acid resistance, or clarity. Pregelatinised starch thickens without cooking, which is useful in instant foods and in pharmaceutical tablets. We can supply native starch and discuss modified grades for specific applications.

Quality Parameters

• Moisture content, usually not more than about 13%
• pH, ash and protein content
• Whiteness and fineness
• Viscosity profile
• Sulphur dioxide residue
• Microbiology and heavy metals, and pharmacopoeial tests for pharma grades

Packaging and Storage

Corn Starch is packed in multi-wall paper bags or HDPE bags, typically 25 kg or 50 kg, or in jumbo bags. Store in a cool, dry place away from strong odours, as starch absorbs moisture and smells.

Why Choose Arizone International?

We are an India-based supplier and exporter of food, pharmaceutical and industrial raw materials. We supply Corn Starch in the grade you need, with test reports and full export documentation.

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