옥수수 전분을 propylene oxide와 반응시켜 치환도가 $0.031{sim}0.147$되는 hydroxypropyl 옥수수 전분을 제조하여 물리화학적 특성을 규명하였다. Hydroxypropylation에 의하여 팽윤력, 용해도 및 물결합 능력이 증가하고 생전분의 효소 분해력이 높아졌으며 요오드 흡착강도가 낮아졌다. 아울러 hydroxypropylation에 의하여 전분의 결정화도도 감소되었다. 한편, 옥수수 전분을 hydroxypropylation시켰을 때 분자량 $1.34{ imes}10^7$ 이상의 큰 분자는 감소하였고 $1.34{ imes}10^7{sim}1.18{ imes}10^5$의 전분 분자는 증가하였다. Hydroxypropylation에 의하여 옥수수 전분 입자의 형태에는 별 변화가 없었으나 입자크기는 평균입경이 $13.9;{mu}m$에서 $16.0;{mu}m$로 증가하였다.
Hydroxypropylated starches were prepared by reaction of corn starch with propylene oxide and their physicochemical properties were compared with those of the native starch. Swelling power, solubility and water binding capacity increased with the increase of hydroxypropylation. The hydroxypropylation of corn starch significantly reduced the extent of digestion and iodine absorption. Starch molecules larger than $1.34{ imes}10^7{sim}$ decreased whereas molecules ranging from $1.34{ imes}10^7{sim}1.18{ imes}10^5$ increased by hydroxypropylation. Granule size increased by hydroxypropylation but this did not significantly affect the granule surface appearance by SEM. The hydroxypropylation improved the solubility and water binding capacity of corn starch.
