OPTIMIZATION OF CONDITIONS OF SYNTHESIS OF OXIDIZED STARCH FROM CORN AND AMARANTH FOR USE IN FILM-FORMING APPLICATIONS

Gum arabic is used as an encapsulating agent because of its film-formi ng ability. However, India has to import gum arabic for its domestic r equirement. Oxidised starch has been reported as a substitute fbr gum arabic but no data are reported on the exact conditions of oxidation o f starch or the analytical indicators for determining the suitability of the product for such a purpose. This work reports on the effect of process conditions for oxidation of corn and waxy amaranth starch with film-forming ability as the major criterion. The process was followed using the analytical indicators of oxidation such as carboxyl content , chlorine consumption and ferricyanide number. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.