Water induced evolution of dielectric and micro-structural properties of rice starch

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to record and correlate mass (m) changes of population of rice starch micro-granules and their effective dielectric permittivity(ε'), as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) changes observed in this system during humidification. Design/methodology/approach: Changes of mass of bio-polymeric-granular sample occurring during its exposition on saturated water vapour at room temperature, was recorded in the time. The ε' evolution was recorded by means of fringe-field-interdigit-dielectric spectroscopy (FFIDS) method. The temperature and relative humidity (RH %) of ambient atmosphere were controlled. Microstructure changes induced by water absorption were recorded by means of XRD diffractometer. Findings: The FFIDS method turned out to be sensitive technique to follow details of humidification process. Correlation between changes of ε' with simultaneously occurring mass increase can be a way to describe the humidification and drying processes of micro-granular bio-polymeric sample. The changes observed by means of XRD should enable to point the regions within granules structures where water molecules effectively interact with internal granules physical organisation on macromolecular level. Research limitations/implications: The time length of m(t) record was limited to ~11000 s in case of humidification by the nature of the process. The whole range of measurements was limited to max ~23 % of water uptake in order to prevent the molecular structure irreversible changes. Practical implications: The ε' monitoring of humidification turned out to be much more selective than only gravitational measurement of mass change. The correlation of both is giving new possibilities of modelling approach. The XRD observed changes within physical structures of rice starch granules seems to be of great importance for modelling of water behaviour in starch. Originality/value: For the first time humidification process was monitored in statu nascendi, without disturbing geometry of granules starch by means of ε' evolution record. It was enabled by application of interdigit comb capacitor as sensing unit. The high quality of XRD records enables a new insight into details of reversible swelling process of rise starch granules. Keywords: Bio-polymers; Micro-granular matter; Water uptake; Interdigit dielectrometry; Biological water