Preparation of Some Cationic Starches Using the Dry Process

The paper deals with the functionalization of starch with cationic groups by reaction with aminating agents in presence of alkali. Aminated starch is of potential utility in the environmental chemistry area due to its capacity to adsorb heavy metals and to used as flocculant. Two types of cationic starches bearing primary or quaternary ammonium groups were prepared using the dry state process, via reacting starch with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl amine und glycidyl trimethyl ammonium acetate respectively in presence of sodium hydroxide. The different factors affecting these reactions were investigated. These factors include sodium hydroxide/amine, amine/starch molar ratios, type of starch, reaction duration and temperature. The amination extent and amination reaction efficiency percent were traced by estimating the nitrogen content of the aminated starch. The prepared cationic starches bearing primary amino group were water insoluble and used as heavy metal ions adsorber. The cationic starches bearing quaternary ammonium groups were water soluble and can be used as flocculant.