How is cornstarch turned into corn syrup?

Corn syrup is produced by breaking down, or hydrolyzing, cornstarch into smaller carbohydrate molecules. This process is achieved by heating a starch slurry in pressure tanks using one of two primary methods:12

• Acid Hydrolysis: The starch is heated with a dilute acid to break the molecular bonds.13
• Enzymatic Hydrolysis: The starch is combined with enzymes, such as amylase, which catalyze the splitting of starch into sugars like maltose and glucose.134

Manufacturers often use a combination of these methods; for example, acids may be used to liquefy the starch, followed by saccharifying enzymes to complete the conversion to dextrose. The extent of this process is measured by dextrose equivalents (D.E.). While partial hydrolysis results in corn syrup, completing the process yields glucose or dextrose. Once converted, the syrup undergoes refining processes to reach its final commercial form.32