Present Status and Prospect of Starch Utilization in Japan

일본(日本)에 있어서 전분이용(澱粉利用)의 현황(現況)과 전망(展望)

Since 1950 there has been a dramatic progress in rationalization of the production of sweet potato and potato starch in Japan. This enabled dextrose industry by enzymatic process to develop rapidly due to the success of enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification. Isomerization of glucose to fructose has been studied, and the immobilization of isomerases prompted its products on industrial scale in 1970. Another advance is the development of effective methods of producing high purity maltose. A malto-hexaose forming amylase was discovered in 1971 and attempts are being made for its pharmaceutical utilization. Saccharification of cellulose by cellulase has been studied. Conversion of starch to other polysaccharides is another example for the numerous Japanese activities.