Surfaces of several types of cereal starch granules are investigated using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. The specific surface, the volume of mesopores and the mean pore diameter are determined using the BET method. Furthermore, pore size distribution, cumulative surface area, volume and mean pore diameter in the range 1.7-300 nm are determined using the BJH method. Surface characteristics and pore characteristies for various cereal starch granules are found to be different. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.