The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the heat moisture treatment (HMT) applied by microwave on the functional and structural properties of the sweet potato starch and compare them to the properties of the starch treated by the conventional method. The starch extracted from sweet potato root was submitted to physical modification, moisture from 25 to 35%, in a conventional oven (90 °C/16 hours) and in a microwave oven (35 to 90 °C/1 hour). The heat treatment resulted in significant alterations in the amylose content and in characteristics such as crystallinity, enzymatic susceptibility, swelling factor, and paste properties. Such variations evidence modifications in the internal granular structure not only in the crystalline areas, but also in amorphous areas. The alterations induced by HMT varied according to the type of heat treatment and moisture content. The samples' moisture was essential for the alteration of some characteristics of the starch such as the enzymatic digestibility and swelling reduction independent of the type of heat treatment applied. Considering the type and the intensity of the physical modifications of the starch treated by the conventional method as reference, it can be said that the use of microwave the energy for this purpose should be further investigated.
physical modification; heat moisture treatment; microwave; starch sweet potato
