Description:
The aim of this research was to develop an enzyme encapsulation process in which both the complex coacervation and drying processes are combined into a single step. For this purpose, we used a novel three-fluid nozzle at the atomization step of spray drying. -Amylase as a model enzyme was encapsulated by coacervation in calcium (Ca) alginate and Ca-alginate+chitosan shell matrices and the powder was obtained in a single step through spray drying. The single-step process was compared to carrying out the complex coacervation and drying processes in two steps using freeze drying, in which -amylase was encapsulated by carrying out the complexation process in the above-mentioned shell matrices using the same three-fluid atomizer and collecting the coacervates, which were subsequently freeze dried. The results showed that the microcapsules obtained from the single-step encapsulation process (three-fluid nozzle spray drying) had smaller particle sizes, were less porous, and provided better enzyme stability compared to the microcapsules obtained by carrying out the complexation and drying in two steps and the single-step process was faster. It was observed that the egg-box structure was formed in both types of powder particles; however, the complexation with chitosan partially disrupted the formation of this structure. The three-fluid nozzle-based spray drying is a promising technology in which both the complex coacervation and drying processes can be carried out in a single step.
Description:
The influence of spray-drying conditions, inlet air temperature (130 degrees C to 200 degrees C), outlet air temperature (38 degrees C to 65 degrees C), drying medium (air and nitrogen) and milk-derived protectants (10%, 15%, and 25% lactose; 5% and 10% sodium caseinate; 10%, 25%, and 35% lactose: sodium caseinate (Lac: NaCas, 3:1)) on the survival of Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris was studied using a laboratory-scale spray dryer. An inlet air temperature of 130 degrees C and 65 degrees C as the outlet air temperature maintained high survival of the bacteria without sacrificing low moisture content. Inlet air temperature, previously considered to have no significant effect, was shown to play an important role in the survival of bacteria during spray drying. A mixture of Lac:NaCas (3: 1) showed a better protective effect on the survival of bacteria than lactose and sodium caseinate individually, and this effect increased with increasing amount of protectant. The results were generalized by substituting whey protein isolate for sodium caseinate. Finally, the positive effect of elimination of oxygen was demonstrated both by replacing air with nitrogen and adding ascorbic acid as an oxygen scavenger to improve survival of the bacteria. Adding an oxygen scavenger would be a better candidate for industrial application considering the potential high cost of manufacturing if nitrogen was used as the atomization and/or drying medium.