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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Grain Quality and Structure Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179993
Title: LASER DIFFRACTION SIZING: STUDYING WHEAT FLOUR AND STARCH PARTICLE SIZES

Author
item Wilson, Jeff
item BECHTEL, DONALD - 5430-05-10, RETIRED

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2005
Publication Date: 5/22/2005
Citation: Wilson, J.D., Bechtel, D.E. 2005. Laser diffraction sizing: studying wheat flour and starch particle sizes. Program Book of the 3rd International Wheat Quality Conference. Meeting Abstract. p.397

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Laser diffraction sizing (LDS) was used to measure particle size distributions of wheat flour and isolated starch to determine if the method could be used as a component for predicting end-use quality. Five hard red winter and five soft red winter wheats were milled into flour from which starch was isolated. Flour particle size distributions were measured dry as well as flour suspended in isopropanol (AACC Method 55-40). Analysis using isopropanol as a suspension fluid caused smaller particles (<8 'm in diameter) to be released from flour. Use of isopropanol caused a shift to larger particle sizes between 8 and 400 'm in comparison to dry analysis. Isopropanol also caused clumping with spurious particles found between 250-400 'm. LDS of isolated starch showed a separation of A- and B-type granules between 9.8 and 10.8 'm for the soft wheats and between 8.2 and 9.8 'm for hard wheats. Hard wheats had a larger volume of starch in the A-type fraction while the soft wheats had more starch in B- and C-type fractions. A demarcation between the B- and C-type starch was only observed for the soft wheats and that was when data was presented as percent surface area. Flour and starch differences were observed between wheat classes as well as among wheats within a class, LDS may prove to be a valuable tool in helping predict wheat end-use quality, an important goal of the grain industry.