The Crystalline Changes of Starch from Rhizoma Dioscorea by Acid Hydrolysis

The changes in crystalline properties of starch from Rhizoma Dioscorea by acid hydrolysis was characterized by X-Ray diffractometry (XRD). The results revealed that the crystalline type of Rhizoma Dioscorea starch changed from C-type to A-type after 16 days of the acid hydrolysis. This phenomenon was different from that of other starches subjected to the acid hydrolysis. The results revealed that the B-polymorphs of C-type starch constituted the amorphous regions while the crystalline areas were mainly composed of A-polymorphs. The degree of crystallinity of the acid-thinned starch increased gradually with the time of acid hydrolysis.