Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1956-09-19
Corn Kernel
Has Many
Deep Secrets
BY-HENRY LESESNE

solution OF the molecular struc-
ture Of the corn kernel-as vet
1 an unattained scientific goal
hold for the future?
Such a question, or thought,
brings a CLEAN to the eyes of
scientists. Having penetrated
the mystery a little way, they
see the promise of what is still
beyond the compass of know
ledge.
They know that if the while
riddle-one of the deepest ever
to BATTLE the chemistS-can be
unlocked, the resulting benefits
10 mankind may be limitless,
and exciting and indeed revolu-
tionary to industry.
In number of the nations
outstanding laboratories, involv-
ing virtually all branches of BIZ
illogical and chemical sciences,
research is aimed at the ulti-
mate solution of the puzzle.
The secret of the corn kernel
from which comes corn starch
and other derivatives - has al
ready. been penetrated to some
extcnt. Two fractions, at least.
pf starch have been identified
And methods Of determining the
kraction-content of Starches
from various plant sources are
now known.
The increased knowledge OF
The useful processes of the frac-
lions has. Of course, widcned
: rcmmCrcial application of corn
starch, and already several
chemical products have been
made from starch.
What benefits lie ahead?
That's in the realm of SpCcula-
ion but the question is no less
Intriguing. A new fuel? New
paper products? A starting point
Tor 4 new chemical industry?
Such potentialiticS or posi-
billtiCS don't seem so closely re-
lated 10 fantasy when it is con-
|idcrcd that already, as con-
|equence or direct result of re-
|earSh. starch. the principal
Fnd-product of the amazingly
fersatile corn kernel, finds It's
ray into some rather odd corn
|rs.
Merely 10 cite a few Of the
more familiar things:
Corn isn't, of course. actually
SEc shirt on your back, but the
hlrt couldn't have been made
he way it is without corn. Nei-
her could your shoes, nor your
looks, nor the paper you write
n, nor your cigarettes, nor the
ct plane you just heard swoosh
cross the sky.
Corn now contributes about
0 per cent Of the total supply
S'archCS in the United States.
according to Norman F. Ken
edy, director of research of the
FORM Industries Research Foun-
|ation, and u. S. corn starch
Presumption has increased from
IS than billion pounds "A year
l!"J 20 more than two billion
pundS annually in the last few
carS.
Starch is tailor-madc for an
fer-Erowing variety of induSt-
al uses, which quantitativcly
re greater than the food uses.
Such uses involve all sorts of
pdustrial operations ranging
om oIl-wcll drilling to book
ncing, from aluminium to dyn-
mite, or from foundry casting
aspirin tablets. The No. |.
ld No. 2 consumers are paper
nd textiles, respectively.
Inc various programs OF the
ooratoricS engaged in research
'pportcd by the Corn Indust-
rs Research Foundation are
Pordinated each year by means.
a four-day forum known as
e Starch Round Table.
You've probably heard that
c meat industry uses all of the
Y except the squcal. The corn
inning industry uses all of the
Pm, including the hulls. and
en goes even beyond that.
1t Utilities the water, contain
y valuable minerals, in which
e corn kernels are soaked or,
eeped preparatory to the pro-
SIS Of separation.
Inc stepping operation is
fnparable, on a large scale, to.
housewives cooking ears of
eet corn on her kitchen range I
o soluble protcinS and miner
OF those sweet corn kernels ,
PUBS the water in the pot, the.
nc as dent corn does in the.
1inlng industry. That's steep
Ptcr. as it's called. b
Inc corn-rcfining plants used
throw it away. just as al