A technical note is available from Viscotek Europe which describes the use of the triple detector array for characterising structural blends in natural starches
A globally abundant and important material, starch is found naturally as a mixture of linear random coil amylose and heavily branched high molecular weight amylopectin.
The end property use to which a starch blend may be put has been found to be much more dependent on the extent and type of branching rather than the molecular weight profile of the mixture.
Incorporating unique triple detection technology (SEC3) the Viscotek triple detector array (TDA) has been demonstrated to offer a precise, new method for simply determining the structural blends found in starches from different natural sources.
The unique SEC3 technology used in the Viscotek TDA combines the separating power of gel permeation chromatography (GPC/SEC) with high sensitivity light scattering, refractive index, and viscometry detectors.
While traditional light scattering detectors have utility in the determination of molecular weight, a multi-detector (SEC3) approach incorporating a viscometer is shown to have clear benefits in also detecting changes in molecular structure.
The technical note demonstrates how for a series of different natural starches data on the structural blends of amylose and amylopectin may be simply and precisely measured through incorporation of data from the viscometry detector.
