Advanced technology for nanostarches preparation by high speed jet and its mechanism analysis

Nanostarches were successfully prepared by high speed jet (HSJ) after pretreatment of micronization. The nanostarches were obtained at the conditions of micronization treatment for 60 min, and then one cycle at 240 MPa of HSJ (188.1 nm). Moreover, after HSJ treated for three cycles, the particle size could reach the level of nanometer materials (66.94 nm). The physicochemical properties of nanostarches had been characterized. Rapid Visco-Analysis (RVA) showed that the viscosity of nanostarches significantly decreased compared with native tapioca starch and slightly decreased with increasing processing cycles of HSJ. Steady shear analysis indicated that all samples displayed pseudoplastic, shear-thinning behavior, while the flow curves of nanostarches were little impact by the processing cycles of HSJ. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the complete destruction of tapioca starch crystalline structure was obtained after HSJ treatment. Molecular characteristics determination suggested that the degradation of amylopectin chains occurred after the treatment of micronization and HSJ, which was proved by the decrease of weight-average molar mass. The results demonstrated that nanostarches were obtained due to the breakdown of starch molecules. This study will provide useful information of the nanostarches for its potential industrial application.