Project Number: 3620-41000-157-02
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Nov 05, 2010
End Date: Jun 30, 2015

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to study the properties of biological macromolecules (starches, proteins, etc.) as a function of different experimental variables (temperature, solvent composition, concentration of additives, etc.) using laser based scattering techniques.

Approach:
The collaboration is centered on characterizing the behavior of corn products and their derivatives in solution or suspension via light scattering experiments. Both static and dynamic light scattering experiments are going to be carried out. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will provide samples of the materials to be studied and Illinois State University (ISU) will perform the experiments on an instrument provided (on loan) by the ARS. Both static and dynamic light scattering measurements provide physical information about a molecular system as it dynamically stands in solution. Physical parameters to be measured are the weight-average molecular weight, the radius of gyration, the second virial coefficient, the translational diffusion coefficient, and the hydrodynamic radius. The dependence of these values on different experimental variables such as temperature, solvent composition, presence of additives (ions, cross-linking agents, etc.), and solution settling time will be measured. The effect of these variables in the physical properties above will provide insight in the process of molecular aggregation, and how chemical interactions play a role on it. Regular meetings between the staff at ARS and ISU will be held to discuss experiments and results. After both parties design an experiment, ISU scientists will perform the experiments and report the results to the ARS staff. Analysis of the results and their implications to the system under study will be discussed. Results and analysis will be presented at meetings, and/or published in peer-reviewed journals.