Effect of temperature in the oxidation reaction of banana starch (Musa paradisiaca L.). activation energy determination

Native banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) starch was subjected to oxidation with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) at 2 % of active chlorine (p/v) at different temperatures (30, 40 and 50 °C) and two pH (7.0 and 8.5). The rate constants (k) and the activation energy (Ea) were obtained from the concentration of hypochlorite ClO^-, (expressed as chlorine consumption) during the starch oxidation. First and second order equations were used to determine the reaction order, considering the initial concentrations of the starch [A]₀ = 2.134 moles/L and the oxidant agent [B]₀= 140.84 mmoles/L. As the temperature increased and at 40 minutes of reaction, practically all chlorine was consumed and in major amount at pH 8.5, obtaining values near to 20 mg Cl₂/g of starch. More than 75 % of chlorine reacted during the five minutes, presumably with the starch pigments. The data were fit for a first order reaction and the reaction rate was higher at pH 7.0 than at 8.5, and it increased when temperature increased. The results allowed the calculation of the Ea of 66.481 KJ/mol (pH 8.5) and 51.082 KJ/mol (pH 7.0).