Abstract:

In this paper, it describes the physicochemical properties such as retrogradation, frozen-thaw stability, transparency and viscosity of arrowhead starch paste. The results indicated that arrowhead starch paste had lower sedimentation velocity, which was between chestnut starch paste and cassava starch paste. The frozen-thaw stability of arrowhead starch paste was similar to that of cassava starch paste. Exposure to strong acid or strong alkali resulted in a higher transparency of arrowhead starch paste, whereas there was an opposite change in the media of weak acid or weak alkali. A higher viscosity of arrowhead starch paste was observed in the range of pH 7－11. Sucrose and glucose could increase the viscosity as well as the transparency of arrowhead starch paste; however, NaCl and CaCl2 exhibited an opposite effect. Moreover, increasing concentration of arrowhead starch paste resulted in a higher viscosity; whereas longer length of shearing time resulted in a lower viscosity. Therefore, arrowhead starch paste is a typical non-Newtonian pseudoplastic fluid.

Key words: arrowhead, starch paste, viscosity, transparency