Starch - Structural properties and variation

8 important questions on Starch - Structural properties and variation

What are the building blocks of starch?

  • Amylose --> alpha,1-4 linked glucose, helical structure
  • Amylopectin --> alpha-1,4 linked glucose backbone and alpha,1-6 glucose side chains, more branched

Why do potato and tapioca starches give a clear paste, while wheat and maize starches give a non-clear paste?

In wheat and maize starch, there are higher amounts of lipids and proteins in the amylose helix.

How are the amount of amylose and the tendency to retrograde related?

Low amylose starches (waxy starches), show a lower tendency to retrograde and are more stable.
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In which ways can you modify starches? And what does it result in?

  • Physical treatment --> soluble in cold water
  • Cross-linking --> lower viscosity, less sensitive to acid, heat and shear
  • Substitution (e.g. Acetyl esters and hydroxypropyl- and methyl esters) --> reduces the gelatinisation, increase viscosity, enhance clarity, inhibit retrogradation, reduce syneresis, improve thaw stability 
  • Hydrolysis --> lower viscosity

How can starches be modified?

Under mild alkaline (high pH) conditions, the starch granules swell, allowing the chemical to migrate into the granule. Chemical penetrate more readily in amorphous than crystalline regions. Amylose more easier to modify than amylopectin (can be substituted on backbone or side chains).

What is the degree of substitution (DS)?

The number of substituents per glucose residue.

What is the maximum degree of substitution of starch?

3, only at 3 free hydroxyl groups of the glucose can be modified.

What is the molar substitution (MS)? And why is it used?

The moles substituents per mole glucose. Used for starches that contain a hydroxyl group, e.g. Hydroxypropyl-starch.

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