Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on Physical Properties of Tapioca Starch

A new processing method for the production of modified starch, high power ultrasonic treatment (400 W), was applied to native tapioca starch. The effect of processing parameters such as ultrasound amplitude (50 and 100%) and sonication time (10, 20 and 30 minutes) on the properties of the modified starches was investigated. Starch granule morphology observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling power, solubility and powder x-ray diffractometry (PXRD) of the obtained ultrasonically treated tapioca starch were determined and compared with native as well as heat-treated tapioca starches. The results from SEM and PXRD showed that the ultrasonic treatment of tapioca starch distorted the crystalline region in starch granules, especially at higher amplitude or sonication time. The swelling power of the tapioca starch increased after treatment with both heat and ultrasound, in which the swelling power of ultrasonically treated starch was higher than that of heat-treated starch. It was found that tapioca starch treated by ultrasound for a certain period of time has an increase in solubility. The increase in the swelling power is associated with water absorption capacity and starch granules solubility.