What are the Different Types of Dextrin and How Are They Used in Various Industries?

They aid in body’s potential to eliminate wastes and also supports robust weight reduction. Dextrin being a water-soluble carbohydrate, it can extensively be used in the Detox Foot pads, acting as an innate binding agent. Dextrin is an odorless, colorless, tasteless substance that’s is made by hydrolyzing the starch or glycogen. It is a low molecular carbohydrate. Any starch source is appropriate enough to make a dextrin. Starch is abundantly available in rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, pea, tapioca, and many other sources. But unlike starch, dextrin appears to be either white, yellow or brown. In addition, dextrin is much less glutinous than the starch that they are derived from.

Dextrin is extensively used in a plethora of industries ranging from the paper industry, chemical industry to the most prominent one being the food industry. In the paper industry, dextrin is considerably used to make coatings and adhesives. The chemical and mineral industry makes the use of yellow dextrin in a variety of processes. The food industry also widely utilizes yellow dextrin but mostly use white dextrin for a substantial realm of applications at a rapid pace. According to the report published by Research Dive, the global dextrin market is expected to generate a revenue of $3,538.00 million in the 2021–2028 analysis period, growing exponentially at a CAGR of 3.60% during the forecast period.

Types of Dextrin

There are three main categories of dextrin namely, white dextrin, yellow or canary dextrin and British Gums. Starch dextrin is often made by heating dry starch. They are particularly also called as pyrodextrin. Pyro conversion is the process of heating dry starch with or without the addition of acid.

• White Dextrin
  They are produced or prepared with the addition of an acid at a low temperature, and the process time while preparing this dextrin is short.
• Yellow Dextrin
  They are prepared with the addition of acid at a much higher temperature, and the process time preparing this dextrin is much longer than the process time used to produce white dextrin. Yellow dextrin is widely applied in encapsulation of water-insoluble oils and flavorings.
• British Gum
  They are prepared at a much higher temperature than both of the dextrin, and the process time is also much longer than the formers. This type of dextrin does not require any kind of chemical modification, and hence British gums are exceedingly soluble. They are remarkably used as carriers for traditional food additives like spices, colorants, flavorings, and many others.

The exposure to higher temperature determines the dark color of starch. This is the same reason why the color of white dextrin is lighter and yellow dextrin is darker. The heat treatment in case of white dextrin is lenient, while the temperature used in making yellow dextrin is much higher, giving it a darker texture.

Surging Demand for Dextrin at Present and in the Coming Years

There has been a soaring demand for dextrin in a variety of industries, particularly in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, owing to its immaculate health benefits on the body of an individual. Dextrin when given with saline solution can significantly hydrate the body whilst reducing the blood sugar levels in the body. The dietary fiber dextrin appreciably helps in reducing bad cholesterol levels, maintaining a sound cardiovascular health of the body. In addition to that, consumption of dextrin fiber along with sufficient water improves digestion and also help in alleviating occasional constipation. Furthermore, they considerably reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, help in providing satiation, and aid in healthy weight loss whilst fighting obesity. Additionally, rising demand for dextrin in the textile industry as a coating and finishing agent so as to optimize stiffness and load on the textile fabrics is further expected to create ample opportunities for the growth of the global dextrin market in the coming years.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.