Physicochemical Characterization of Starch and Cellulose Nanofibers Extracted from Colocasia esculenta Cultivated in the Colombian Caribbean

This study explores the valorization of <i>Colocasia esculenta</i> roots (flesh and peels) as a source of biopolymers by isolating and characterizing starch and cellulose nanofibers. Fresh roots were sourced from the Colombian Caribbean, and a bromatological analysis was conducted to determine their composition. Starch was extracted from the flesh (yield: 16.2 ± 0.5%) and characterized by a low amylose content (14.6 ± 0.9%) and a gelatinization temperature of 77.6 ± 0.3 °C. Granules showed spherical and polyhedral shapes and smooth, fissure-free surfaces. The median granule size (D50 = 12.2 ± 0.18 µm) exceeded several values reported for <i>Colocasia esculenta</i> from other regions. Cellulose nanofibers were isolated from peel byproducts (yield: 10.0 ± 1.4%), displaying dense fibrillar networks with diameters of 15-25 nm and lengths around 80 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups in both materials. Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal degradation peaks at 320 °C for starch and 330 °C for nanocellulose. These findings demonstrate that <i>Colocasia esculenta</i>, an underutilized crop in the Colombian Caribbean, represents a promising and sustainable raw material for the development of bio-based polymers with suitable physicochemical, structural, and thermal properties.