Effects of Acetylation on the Morphological, Physicochemical, and Thermal Properties of <i>Enterolobium cyclocarpum</i> Starch

Abstract This study investigates the impact of acetylation treatment on Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Parota) starch, focusing Morphological, Physico‐chemical and thermal impact induced by varying acetylation levels. The research employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to examine the structural and thermal alterations resulting from acetylation. These analyses also evaluated the starch's thermal stability. Through titration, the degree of substitution and acetyl group content were quantified, demonstrating significant morphological transformations in the starch, such as increased particle size and the appearance of surface cracks on the granules. The study revealed that the degree of substitution, which changes with the duration of acetylation, markedly influences the starch's physicochemical properties, including hydrophobicity and thermal stability. Initially, acetylation reduced the gelatinization temperature, suggesting a decrease in the energy required for gelatinization. Over longer acetylation periods, however, the gelatinization temperature increased, likely due to enhanced crystallinity or molecular reorganization. These findings indicate that acetylated Parota starch has potential applications in the food industry as an encapsulating agent and in the thermoplastics industry as a plasticizer, dependent on the level of acetylation. This research underscores the utility of specific chemical modifications to adapt starch properties for various industrial applications.