EVALUATION OF AN ENZYMATIC METHOD FOR STARCH PURITY DETERMINATION

Independent evaluation of an enzyme method (AFNOR) on a wider than original array of starch types showed incomplete conversion of some starch components (up to 2.5%) to glucose, as assayed per gel permeation chromatography. The AFNOR method uses only a single enzyme regime consisting of amyloglucosidase from Aspergillus niger. Negligible amounts of starch were found in the precipitates/residues obtained after starch hydrolysis of the starch hydrolysates (<0.1%). Standard deviation of the method was <1% absolute for all starches studied.