An analytical method using Raman spectroscopy was developed for the determi
nation of amylose concentration in maize starches. FT-Raman spectra of four
maize starches with amylose content varying from 3.3 to 66% were obtained.
A Raman band at approximate to 1657 cm(-1) correlated linearly with amylos
e concentration in the four maize starches, and a calibration curve for Rom
an band intensity versus amylose content was developed. The linear correlat
ion of the I-1657/I-900 integrated areas with amylose content was r = 0.997
. The Raman-based calibration curve allows fast and nondestructive determin
ation of the amylose content in maize starches with minimal sample preparat
ion.