Patent ID: 8481717

Claim:
A process of preparing a granular corn or wheat starch comprising crosslinking the corn or wheat starch using sodium trimetaphosphate or a combination of sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate: a. wherein the pH is adjusted to between 11.5 and 12.0 prior to the crosslinking reaction using an at least 25% alkali solution and is maintained at 11.5 to 12.0 throughout the crosslinking reaction; b. wherein no more than 2% water by weight of the starch (dry basis) is added to the starch during the pH adjustment prior to the crosslinking reaction; c. wherein the sodium trimetaphosphate is used in an amount of from about 5-16% by weight of the starch; d. wherein the reaction is conducted at a solids level of at least 36% by weight; and e. wherein the reaction is conducted for a period of from about 10 minutes to 30 hours.