Polarity functions' characterization and the mechanism of starch modification by DC glow discharge plasma.

The wheat starch was investigated, before and after exposure to the argon and oxygen glow discharge plasma, without any added chemical reagents, using a novel media polarity functions method. The mechanisms of modification of starch in plasma discharge irradiation were explained using some methods such as; NMR, IR spectroscopy, Kamlet-Abboud-Taft polarity functions (specific and nonspecific interaction) of modified starch. The starch modification, by plasma treatment, shows valuable changes with plasma gas and relative ionized or active species. Characterizations indicate that argon glow discharge plasma increases crosslink in C-2 site of starch. Also, oxygen plasma discharge irradiation tends to oxidize the OH group in C-6 site of carbonyl group. Furthermore, the reported mechanisms show the highest efficiency, because of the stereo-chemical orientation of active sites of starch and plasma potential of wall in plasma media.