TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: Step (E) involves applying shear force to the slurry; atomizing the liquid phase within the slurry to create dispersed droplet flow regime; forming low pressure region downstream of the nozzle; generating condensation shock wave within the passage downstream of the nozzle by condensation of the transport fluid; injecting the high velocity transport fluid into the slurry through several nozzles communicating with the passage; and recirculating the slurry through the starch activation device. Step (B) involves heating the slurry and/or maintaining it at first predetermined temperature within first vessel for first predetermined period of time. The process additionally involves transferring the slurry to second vessel from the starch activation device, and maintaining the temperature of the slurry in the second vessel for second predetermined period of time; where the transferring step involves passing the slurry through a temperature conditioning unit to raise the temperature of the slurry; agitating the slurry in the first and second vessels for the respective first and second periods of time. The transport fluid (preferably steam) is injected at supersonic velocity. The step (E) occurs on a single pass of the slurry through the starch activation device. Step (D) is carried out using a low shear pump (14). Preferred Components: The working fluid is water. Preferred Apparatus: The hydrating unit comprises heating unit for heating the working fluid and/or the slurry; first vessel (2) having an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the passage; and heated water jacket (4, 58) surrounding the first vessel. The heating unit is remote from the hydrating unit. The apparatus additionally comprises second vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the passage; residence tube section having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the passage; transport fluid supply to supply transport fluid to the transport fluid nozzle; several starch activation devices in series and/or parallel with one another; several transport fluid supply lines (48) connecting the transport fluid supply with each nozzle, where each transport fluid supply line includes transport fluid conditioning unit; dedicated transport fluid supply (50) for each transport fluid nozzle; temperature conditioning unit (52) located downstream of the starch activation device and adapted to increase the temperature of fluid leaving the passage of the device; recirculation pipe to allow fluid recirculation from downstream of the starch activation device to upstream of the starch activation device; and low shear pump to pump fluid from the hydrating unit to the starch activation device. The second vessel includes insulating unit for insulating the contents of the second vessel. The residence tube includes insulating unit for insulating the contents of the residence tube as it passes through. The transport fluid nozzle is annular and circumscribes the passage. The transport fluid nozzle has an inlet, an outlet and throat portion intermediate the inlet and the outlet, where the throat portion has cross sectional area which is less than that of the inlet and the outlet. The passage is of constant diameter. The transport fluid conditioning unit is adapted to vary the supply pressure of the transport fluid to its respective nozzle. Each transport fluid supply includes transport fluid conditioning unit. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.