FLAVOR ENCAPSULATION BY SPRAY DRYING - APPLICATION TO CITRAL AND LINALYL ACETATE

Leaflash spray drying technique was used to encapsulate a mixture of two volatile products, citral and linalyl acetate in the proportion of 80:20 (w/w). The support materials were gum arabic and maltodextrin in different proportions. Very short air product contact time during the drying process allowed encapsulation of these compounds using high inlet air temperature (300-400-degrees-C) without any adverse effect on chemical properties. Emulsions were atomized up to 60% total solids concentration. In this range of concentration, substitution of gum arabic by a less costly maltodextrin was possible achieving 84% volatiles retention. The technique could be efficiently used to encapsulate sensitive flavors.