Suspensions of corn starch (5e40 mg/mL) were treated and gelatinized at high pressure (600 MPa, 6 min,
20 C). The treatment induced granular swelling without disruption of starch granules. Emulsions
(sunflower oil/starch dispersion, 30/70, v/v) were prepared by homogenization and were characterized
(emulsion stability, droplet size and flow behavior). The structure of corn starch was disrupted in the
presence of oil by the homogenization process. The starch fragments and the released starch molecules
stabilized the oil droplets. The increased concentration of treated starch enhanced the consistency index
and reduced the emulsion droplet size, improving the emulsion stability. The presence of sodium
chloride at a high concentration (0.6 M NaCl) promoted a larger droplet size without modifying the flow
behavior. Thus, high-pressure treated corn starch could be used to form and stabilize emulsions created
by a homogenization process.