The expansion property of starch granules is of great importance to the food industries. The effect of lactic acid concentration during photochemical treatment of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), edible canna (Canna edulis), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) starches was evaluated. The results showed that the acid concentration influenced the expansion property of sweet potato, cassava and cocoyam starches, but no differences were observed in edible canna starch, so that the acid concentration must be adjusted for each starch. The expansion ranges observed in all starches were lower that in modified cassava starch.
radiation; expansion; cassava; canna; cocoyam; sweet potato
