ARS | Publication request: Enzyme Digestion of Starch-Graft-Copolymers

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: August 15, 2004
Publication Date: October 18, 2004
Citation: Haig, R.L., Parsons, J.D., Finkenstadt, V.L. 2004. Enzyme digestion of starch-graft-copolymers [abstract]. American Chemical Society. p.176:371.

Technical Abstract: Starch-graft-poly(acrylamide) was hydrolyzed with an enzyme cocktail composed of a-amylose and a-amylogluosidase in excess. Although the starch-graft-poly(acrylamide) was not water-soluble, it was water-swellable and vulnerable to enzyme attack. After digestion, the hydrolysate was evaluated using thin layer paper chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. In addition, iodine staining was used to qualitatively evaluate the starch-graft-poly(acrylamide) before and after hydrolysis. It was found that the starch was completely digested into small chain oligomers (DP<5) leaving the grafted copolymer in solution. Molecular weight distribution by HP-SEC were comparable to acid hydrolyzed samples. More significantly, enzyme hydrolyzed samples could be filtered and injected into the HP-SEC without costly purification steps required by acid hydrolysis. Enzyme hydrolysis is more efficient and environmentally friendly than acid hydrolysis.