A thorough understanding of starch gelatinization is extremely important for precise control of starch functional properties for food processing and human nutrition. Here we reveal the molecular mechanism of starch gelatinization by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in conjunction with a protocol using the rapid viscosity analyzer (RVA) to generate material for analysis under conditions that simulated the DSC heating profiles. The results from DSC, FTIR, Raman, X-ray diffraction and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses all showed that residual structural order remained in starch that was heated to the DSC endotherm end temperature in starch:water mixtures of 0.5 to 4:1 (v/w). We conclude from this study that the DSC endotherm of starch at a water:starch ratio of 2 to 4 (v/w) does not represent complete starch gelatinization. The DSC endotherm of starch involves not only the water uptake and swelling of amorphous regions, but also the melting of starch crystallites.

Solid-supported metal catalysts have been widely used in industrial processes. The morphology of coated metal on the support is usually an important factor affecting the efficiency of the catalyst. In this study, a photocatalytic process is utilized to control the morphology of platinum particles deposited on titania (Degussa P-25). More specifically, the effect of pH on the morphology and the valence state of platinum nanoparticles was systemically investigated. It is found that, via a simple pH-controlled process, various states of platinum (Pt0, PtIIO, or PtIVO2) can be deposited onto the support directly at will. In this paper, the mechanism of morphology control and the key influencing factors at different pH regimes will be discussed. Followed by photodeposition, a H2 thermal treatment process was employed to convert the oxides into metal platinum with narrow size distribution and even coverage on the supporting titania. Various techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to characterize the prepared titania-supported platinum particles.