FRACTIONATION OF STARCH AMYLOPECTIN AND AMYLOSE BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE GEL-FILTRATION CHROMATOGRAPHY

A gel filtration chromatographic method has been developed which is capable of fractionating amylose and amylopectin in starch. Three GFC columns (2 x 4 000 angstrom and 1 x 300 angstrom PL Separation Sciences, Polymer Laboratories Ltd,) are used in series using sodium chloride solution as eluent. Minimal sample preparation is involved which includes a preliminary wetting of powder starch with ethanol followed by dissolution with sodium hydroxide. Since the solvent system is aqueous, cooked starch samples are analysed by direct dissolution with sodium hydroxide. The method shows promise as a rapid technique in elucidating starch structure.