Abstract: A process for the production of a cold-water dispersible, starch half ester of a hydrocarboxyl-substituted succinic or glutaric acid, particularly the starch half ester of n-octenylsuccinic acid, includes the step of gelatinising and partially degrading the granular starch half ester, preformed in a manner known per se, by heating the half ester under shearing conditions, e.g. in an extruder, in the presence of water. Milling of the product gives a fine powder which is more readily dispersible in water to give a lump-free dispersion than is the alternative roll-dried ester.

Abstract: In a process for extruding or injection moulding starch-containing composition, a substantially transparent product is produced by providing that the starch used contains less than 8% by weight of water, that the water content of the starch in the barrel of the extruder or injection moulding machine is controlled so as to be within the range of from 5 to 20% by weight (based on the weight of the starch) and that water is removed from the composition immediately before the composition leaves the barrel of the extruder or the injection moulding machine so that the water content of the composition passing through the die and/or entering the mould is less than 3% by weight of the starch.