Aggregation Of Amylose Research Articles

Further studies by light scattering of amylose aggregates. Particle weights under various conditions

AbstractDecreases in particle weight of amylose on aging in neutral and in alkaline aqueous solution are demonstrated by measurements of turbidity as a function of concentration. This further verifies that the previously reported turbidity drops are a consequence of disaggregation of an unusual type of aggregate. The same particle weights are obtained, in the case of aggregated samples, at pH 4 and in normal KOH. Anomalies arise in dilution series carried out in neutral solution and in solutions at pH 4 in the case of amyloses of low degree of aggregation, and a probable explanation is given. Samples can be partially stabilized in a given state of disaggregation by rendering the solution alkaline, and normal dilution series curves result. Disaggregation of the “native” aggregates continues along with retrogradation, and the retrograded aggregates are broken down readily by alkali. This leads to a method of disaggregation based on retrogradation followed by solution in 0.5 N KOH.