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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189691
Title: THE AZIDATION OF STARCH

Author
item Shey, Justin
item Holtman, Kevin
item Wong, Rosalind
item Gregorski, Kay
item Klamczynski, Artur
item Orts, William
item Glenn, Gregory - Greg
item Imam, Syed

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Polymers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2006
Publication Date: 4/4/2006
Citation: Shey, J., Holtman, K.M., Wong, R.Y., Gregorski, K.S., Klamczynski, A., Orts, W.J., Glenn, G.M., Imam, S.H. 2006. The azidation of starch. Carbohydrate Polymers. 65 (4): 529-534 (2006)

Interpretive Summary: Starch is an inexpensive commodity that has been used for non-food purposes for many years. Some of these uses include cross-linked starches that are synthesized with a variety of multifunctional reagents. In this report, we explored the possibility of the use of azides for cross-linking. Azide derivatives of different starches including amylopectin have been synthesized. Different reagents and solvents were investigated for their ability to promote the reaction. The time for this derivatization reaction to reach completion was determined. Initial experiments suggest that the azide derivative does cross-link starch when activated. Probable uses for this azide cross-linked starch are as an absorbent, paste thickener, and flocculent.

Technical Abstract: Starch is an inexpensive commodity that has been used for non-food purposes for many years. Some of these uses include cross-linked starches that are synthesized with a variety of multifunctional reagents. One unexplored possibility is the use of azides for cross-linking. To this end, azide derivatives of different starches have been synthesized, including the first reported synthesis of 6-deoxy-6-azido-amylopectin. Lithium salts, which were found to not be essential for the dissolution of starch in the reaction, were replaced with sodium azide. The time for this derivatization reaction to reach completion was determined to be one hour. N,N-dimethylacetamide was also found to be a suitable solvent. Initial experiments suggest that the azide derivative does cross-link starch when activated by heat.