Yellow dextrin is a partial hydrolysis product of starch.
Hydrolysis is carried out using catalysts, such as acids or enzymes.
The varying solubility of dextrin depends on the time of reaction and the degree of hydrolysis.
This, in turn decides the property of the derived product.
Hence, they are available in different grades prepared as per the customer requirements.
The chemical process to manufacture dextrin, comprise of a dry process or a wet process.
Dry process is carried out directly on the available starch powder without any solvent, while wet process involves solvent.
Depending on the process type, source and other company factors, the product price of yellow dextrin can vary.
But, yellow dextrin is a very cheap material, due to the abundant source of starch and the ease of preparation.
They are extensively used in manufacture of water-soluble glues, dextrin adhesives for corrugation of cardboards, paper tubes, and as binders in many other industries.
They also have uses in foundry and mining industry.
There are hundreds of manufacturer around the globe.
All manufacturers have different sources of starch.
Starch could be from potato, maize, tapioca (cassava) or wheat.
And these different sources of starch can further give different properties to the starch derivatives.
Yellow dextrin, derived from potato, maize or tapioca starch has different properties with respect to colour, water solution clarity, and adhesive property.
Potato yellow dextrin solution in water has excellent clarity and fantastic sticking property.
But, potato derived dextrin is quiet expensive compared to maize or tapioca derived dextrin.
Maize derived dextrin have lighter colour and has its own advantages in adhesives.
But, even if Tapioca yellow dextrin solution in water have a dark colour, it enjoys the advantage of having greater sticking property and have extensive use in making of paper tubes.