Investigations on starches from major starch crops grown in Ghana: III.—Particle size and particle size distribution

Two procedures (sedimentation and Coulter counter) were used for the particle size analysis of starches from major West African starch crops. Data obtained by both methods appears to be in good agreement for large‐granule starches, e.g. large granule yam (Dioscorea) starches. The Coulter counter method, however, appears to be oversizing with starches having most of the granules smaller than 20 μm. This was also confirmed by microscopic examination accompanying the size analysis of all tested samples. Good agreement was found between the size analysis results on Dioscorea starches and some of their physical properties that were affected by granule size. To some extent, size and shape of Dioscorea starches can be used as a basis for differentiation even between cultivars; starches from different cultivars of plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) and cassava (Manihot utilissima Pohl.) did not show any significant differences.