Effect of Moisture Level on the Crystallinity of Wheat Starch Aged at Different Temperatures

Abstract

AbstractDifferential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to study retrogradation of wheat starch. For storage at 4°C, enthalpy (ΔH) values of retrogradation endotherm (recrystallization) of wheat starch containing various moisture levels (25–80%) slowly continued to increase except in samples with moisture level of 50, 60 and 70%. For storage at 26°C and 32°C, most recrystallization of wheat starch occured within one and two weeks of storage time, while recrystallization with a moisture level of 50% at 26°C occurred for 4 weeks. The peak temperatures of retrogradation endotherm at various moisture levels (25–80%) after 4 weeks of storage time increased largely as the storage temperatures increased from 4 to 32°C. The enthalpy values of retrogradation endotherm after 4 weeks of storage occurred to a greater extent at a lower storage temperature. The glass transition temperature and starch recrystallization have a close relationship. In the recrystallization of wheat starch, the nucleation and propagation rate after 4 weeks of storage can be converted into enthalpy and peak temperature of retrogradation endotherm.