Distribution of Nitrogen in the Cationized Potato Starch Granule

The distribution of a cationic reagent in the potato starch granule derivatized by reaction with 1,2-epoxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride was studied by ESCA spectroscopy. It was possible to detect and quantify the contents of nitrogen derived from proteinous material and nitrogen derived from the cationizing reagent on the surfaces of starch preparations. The results show that the differences in nitrogen distribution between cationic starches prepared by different (dry or wet) methods are negligible. According to the result it seems that the cationization takes place more easily in the amorphous material of the inner parts of the granule than in the crystalline amylopectin layer of the surface.