[citation needed] The potato starch production supply chain varies significantly by region.
However, in the US, potatoes are not grown for starch production and manufacturers must source raw material from food processor waste streams.
The characteristics of these waste streams can vary significantly and require further processing by the US potato starch manufacturer to ensure the end-product functionality and specifications are acceptable.
[citation needed] Potatoes are delivered to the starch plants via road or rail transport.
Hydrocyclones due to the low output (approximately 0.3 cubic meters per hour) are connected in parallel and works as multihydrocyclones.
In order to prevent enzymatic darkening of potato juice the chemical refining of starch is carried out using sulfurous acid.
High temperatures cannot be used in this process because of the danger of starch gelatinization which destroys granular structure.
In this device moist starch (with water content 36 – 40%) is floating in strong and hot (160 °C) air flow and then dried during 2 – 3 seconds.
Due to short time of high temperature drying and intensive water evaporation from the starch granules, its surface is heated only to 40 °C.
That is why clarifier usage enables application of closed cycle which noticeably reduces amount of cleaning water that is needed.
In addition, this type of water should contain low amounts of metals such as: Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn; which has bad influence on starch properties.
It contains about 5% of dry substance, including about 2% valuable protein of the potato of high nutritional value, minerals, vitamins and other.
Because of the full range of the exogenic amino acids the formulation is a valuable protein feed.
It contains all non-starchy substances insoluble in water (fragments of wall of cells) fibres and bounded starch which cannot be mechanically separated from the blended parties of potato.
The dry substance of the pulp contains 30% of starch, which makes it a good source for animal feed for cows.
Applications of starch in non-food sectors include: production of dextrin and adhesives, drilling fluids, biodegradable plastics, gypsum binders and many other.
Other important fields of starch application are textile sizing agents, excipient in tablets for pharmaceuticals.