Physicochemical and Disintegrant Properties of Sodium Carboxymethyl Starch Derived from Borassus Aethiopum (arecaceae) Shoot

Sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS) samples synthesized from an under-utilized shoot of Borassus aethiopum were characterized and compared with a commercial brand, sodium starch glycolate. Effects of carboxylation on the physicochemical properties of the samples were examined by FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques. The rheological, micromeritics and disintegrant properties of the samples were also examined. The CMS samples had variable degree of substitution (DS) with the lowest DS (0.11) comparable to sodium starch glycolate in terms of desirable micromeritics, rheological and disintegrant properties. FTIR and XRD established modification of the native starch by showing an intense band around 1588 cm−1 to 1608 cm−1 and reduction in the peak intensities for the CMS samples respectively. CMS with variable DS and desirable micromeritics and rheological properties for potential applications as excipients in biopolymer industries could be obtained from Borassus aethiopum shoots.