PalmStarch

The goal of the PalmStarch project is to develop the knowledge and technology to extract starch and residual glucose from oil palm trunks and to test the use of starch and glucose for food and non-food applications including veneer glue, feed for insects and bioplastics.

Oil palm trees need to be replanted after 20 to 30 years to prevent oil yields from falling. Currently, the trunks are mostly chopped and left in the field to serve as mulch. Previous research has established that trunks generally contain up to 5 ton of starch per hectare, which is concentrated in the top part of the trunks. The use of this starch and glucose will avoid the need to grow other crops to produce this feedstock, thereby saving land and indirectly avoiding deforestation. The research will concentrate on optimizing the extraction of starch followed by testing or developing applications. Other research aspects include estimating starch and glucose content of trunk tops over the year and minimizing soil impacts.

LINKS

Project site on research.wur.nl