Patent ID: 8703933

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: mixing a siliconate solution and a starch to form a siliconate solution/starch mixture, wherein the siliconate solution comprises a siliconate, wherein the siliconate percentage of the siliconate solution/starch mixture is at least 0.5%; wherein the total moisture of the siliconate solution/starch mixture is at least 5% and not greater than 50%; and sufficiently mixing the mixture to result in a hydrophobic starch mixture, wherein the hydrophobic starch mixture exhibits a hydrophobicity of no more than 1 ml as assessed by the following test: add 75 ml of water to a Goetz type centrifuge tube; add 5 g of the hydrophobic starch mixture; invert the centrifuge tube 10 times without causing splashing, where “invert” is intended to mean turning the tube upside down and then back to original position over a period of at least three seconds; allow the centrifuge tube to sit for 30 minutes; slowly invert the centrifuge tube 10 more times without splashing; allow the centrifuge tube to sit another 30 minutes; and record the volume of settled starch in the centrifuge tube.