Ultrasonic assisted production of starch nanoparticles: Structural characterization and mechanism of disintegration

Sami Boufi (1) , Sihem Bel Haaj (1) , Albert Magnin (2) , Frédéric Pignon (2) , Marianne Impéror-Clerc (3) , Gérard Mortha (4)

1 Université de Sfax
2 LR - Laboratoire de rhéologie
3 LPS - Laboratoire de Physique des Solides
4 LGP2 - Laboratoire Génie des procédés papetiers

In this paper, the disintegration of starch (waxy and standard starch) granules into nanosized particles under the sole effect of high power ultrasonication treatment in water/isopropanol is investigated, by using wide methods of analysis. The present work aims at a fully characterization of the starch nanoparticles produced by ultrasonication, in terms of size, morphology and structural properties, and the proposition of a possible mechanism explaining the top-down generation of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) via high intensity ultrasonication. Dynamic light scattering measurements have indicated a leveling of the particle size to about 40 nm after 75 min of ultrasonication. The WAXD, DSC and Raman have revealed the amorphous character of the SNPs. FE-SEM. AFM observations have confirmed the size measured by DLS and suggested that SNPs exhibited 2D morphology of platelet-like shapes. This morphology is further supported by SAXS. On the basis of data collected from the different characterization techniques, a possible mechanism explaining the disintegration process of starch granules into NPs is proposed.

Mots clés: Starch; Nanoparticles; Ultrasonication

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]; Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]; Matériaux

Sami Boufi, Sihem Bel Haaj, Albert Magnin, Frédéric Pignon, Marianne Impéror-Clerc, et al.. Ultrasonic assisted production of starch nanoparticles: Structural characterization and mechanism of disintegration. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 2018, 41, pp.327-336. ⟨10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.09.033⟩. ⟨hal-02920317⟩