Abstract: The invention relates to oxidized starch, to a method of preparing oxidized starch and to the use of the oxidized starch in various applications.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of paper coating, more in particular to means and methods for providing paper with at least one layer of pigment using film coating to obtain a well printable surface. Provided is a method for preparing coated paper comprising the steps of: a) providing a pigmented wet coating formulation comprising water, 2-20 parts of a binder and 100 parts of pigment, wherein at least 50% of the binder is highly branched starch (HBS) characterized by a molecular weight of between 0.5*105 and 1*106 Daltons and having a molecular branching degree of at least 6% and which is obtained by treatment of gelatinized starch or starch derivative with a glycogen branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18); and wherein at least 70% of the pigment is calcium carbonate; and b) applying the pigmented wet coating formulation to paper by film coating and drying the coated paper.