C12Y302/01094

Alpha-glucan mixture, its preparation and uses

An object of the present invention is to provide an α-glucan mixture in a preferable molecular weight range, which can be made into a transparent film with advantageous strength and water solubility when an edible film is made by using the α-glucan mixture without adding any plasticizer. The above object is solved by providing an α-glucan mixture, which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps of gelatinizing waxy starch and liquefying the resulting gelatinized waxy starch by allowing an amylase to act on it, having the following characteristics (1) and (2): (1) having the weight average molecular weight (Mw) in a range of 150 kDa to 3,000 kDa; and (2) having the value of dividing weight average molecular weight (Mw) with number average molecular weight (Mn), Mw/Mn, of 35.1 or lower.

ALPHA-GLUCAN MIXTURE, ITS PREPARATION AND USES

An object of the present invention is to provide an -glucan mixture in a preferable molecular weight range, which can be made into a transparent film with advantageous strength and water solubility when an edible film is made by using the -glucan mixture without adding any plasticizer.

The above object is solved by providing an -glucan mixture, which is obtainable by a process comprising the steps of gelatinizing waxy starch and liquefying the resulting gelatinized waxy starch by allowing an amylase to act on it, having the following characteristics (1) and (2): (1) having the weight average molecular weight (Mw) in a range of 150 kDa to 3,000 kDa; and (2) having the value of dividing weight average molecular weight (Mw) with number average molecular weight (Mn), Mw/Mn, of 35.1 or lower.