The process and waste water from the potato processing industry contains high concentrations of starch and can be recovered at various places in the production process. During recovery, a distinction is made between white and gray starch.

White starch is starch that has not yet been heated above 40°C. This starch still contains all its typical properties and can be used as a raw material in the paper, glue and bioplastics industry. White starch is recovered in the water for the blanching zone, usually at the cutting blades.

Gray starch is discolored after heating and is separated as the first step in water purification. This starch can be used as a raw material for fermentation.