Author
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Lawton Jr, John |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2004 Publication Date: 12/5/2004 Citation: Lawton Jr, J.W. 2004. Preparation of starch nanoparticles without surfactants[abstract]. BioEnvironmental Polymer Society. p.74:63. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Nano-size starch particles were prepared without surfactants. Starch was dissolved in 90% aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide and filtered. The filtered 1% starch solution was dialyzed against absolute ethanol using dialysis membrane having a molecular weight cut off of 6,000-8,000. The precipitated starch particles were centrifuged to separate them from the ethanol and then were critical point dried using carbon dioxide. The dried starch particles were in the size range of 200 to 300 nm, which are slightly greater than what is generally classified as nano-particles. The particles are spherical to elliptical in shape. The concentration of the starting solutions affects the particle size. Solutions that were 5% starch had larger particles and were not nearly as spherical. Drying also affected the particles as air drying caused the particles to agglomerate into much larger particles. Critical point drying also yielded particles that agglomerated, but the agglomeration was much less than seen with air drying. Better drying techniques need to be found so that particles do not agglomerate. Dry particles show some degree of crystallization by X-ray diffraction giving a V-pattern crystal. The particles are water soluble after drying. The process of using different starch and modified starches to produce nano-particle starch will be discussed. |
