title: Quantification of high-power ultrasound induced damage on potato starch granules using light microscopy.
abstract: A simple light microscopic technique was developed in order to quantify the damage inflicted by high-power low-frequency ultrasound (0-160 W, 20 kHz) treatment on potato starch granules in aqueous dispersions. The surface properties of the starch granules were modified using ethanol and SDS washing methods, which are known to displace proteins and lipids from the surface of the starch granules. The study showed that in the case of normal and ethanol-washed potato starch dispersions, two linear regions were observed. The number of defects first increased linearly with an increase in ultrasound power up to a threshold level. This was then followed by another linear dependence of the number of defects on the ultrasound power. The power threshold where the change-over occurred was higher for the ethanol-washed potato dispersions compared to non-washed potato dispersions. In the case of SDS-washed potato starch, although the increase in defects was linear with the ultrasound power, the power threshold for a second linear region was not observed. These results are discussed in terms of the different possible mechanisms of cavitation induced-damage (hydrodynamic shear stresses and micro-jetting) and by taking into account the hydrophobicity of the starch granule surface.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Yue Yue J
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hébraud
authors.forename: Yacine
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hemar
authors.forename: Muthupandian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashokkumar
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D008853:Microscopy; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods*; D013213:Starch / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D013213:Starch