OXIDATION OF MAIZE AND RICE STARCHES USING SODIUM-CHLORITE ALONG WITH FORMALDEHYDE

Maize and rice starches were independently oxidized with sodium chlorite in absence and presence of formaldehyde. The treatment was carried out under different conditions including sodium chlorite and formaldehyde concentrations and duration. Since the treatment involves degradation of starch via oxidation, the treated starch samples were monitored for carboxyl and carbonyl contents as well as apparent viscosity at different rates of shear. Results obtained indicated that with both starches the percent chlorite decomposed increases as the formaldehyde concentration increases within the range studied (0.0-0.3 g/100 starch). The same holds true for the duration of oxidation (15-90 min). The apparent viscosity of starch before and after oxidation decreases as the rate of shear increases. Maize starch is more susceptible to oxidation than rice starch. When applied as sizing agents for cotton textiles oxidized starches derived from maize and rice starch display better performance than the unoxidized starch but with the superiority of the sizeability and desizeability of oxidized maize starch.