The kinetics of the periodate oxidation of starch to dialdehyde starch have been studied thoroughly based on a reliable high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis. Investigation of the early stage of reaction has revealed that it proceeds initially following second-order kinetics. Later on, however, the resulting second-order model deviates from the experimental data. In order to get a model for the course of the total reaction, the kinetics have been approached from a different angle. Based on elementary kinetic principles, an appropriate model has been derived that can be used to simulate the oxidation process. An oxidation process performed semi-continuously has been modelled and compared with a batch process.