The Reactivity of Native and Autoclaved Starches from Different Origins Towards Acetylation and Cationization

Abstract

AbstractNative potato, waxy corn, corn, wheat, filed pea and lentil starches were autoclaved at 15 psi, 121°C for 1min. Scanning electron micrographs of the native and autoclaved starches showed no changes in granular surfaces and shapes. In all starches, the X‐ray intensities at most of the d‐spacings between 3‐18 Å increased upon autoclaving, being more pronounced in potato. The X‐ray patterns of cereals and legumes remained unchanged, while that of tuber (potato) became more cereal‐like. Differential scanning calorimetry of the starch samples revealed that autoclaving increased the gelatinization transition temperatures of wheat but decreased that of potato; the changes observed in waxy corn, corn, field pea and lentil starches were very small. The gelatinization enthalpy of all native starches decreased upon autoclaving while the percentage decrease was highly marked in potato. Image analysis of the native and autoclaved starches revealed changes in the granule size distribution patterns. Also, the population mean area of all native starch granules considerably increased upon autoclaving. Acetyl binding capacity, measured at 5% and 10% acetic anhydride addition levels, was higher in autoclaved than in native starches. Furthermore, autoclaving had no influence on starch cationization, studied at 3% and 6% reagent addition levels. The results indicated that the changes in starch molecular organization caused by autoclaving enhanced its reactivity towards acetylation but not cationization.