Crystal Structure of Hydrated Potato Starch

Abstract

Abstract The X‐ray diffraction pattern of Nägeli‐treated potato starch was examined and changes in the diffraction pattern of native potato starch were measured for hydrations ranging from 0 to 50%. The fine structure of the diffraction pattern revealed many lines of very weak intensity, superimposed on a “basic structure” with hexagonal unit cell. It is suggested that that a “superstructure” exists in fully hydrated potato starch. A packing arrangement of hydrated potato starch is proposed in which every string of six helical macromolecular chains encloses a cylindrical cavity filled with water structured like cubic ice.