Effect of Solids Content and Spray-Drying Operating Conditions on the Carotenoids Microencapsulation from Pressed Palm Fiber Oil Extracted with Supercritical CO₂

Carotenoids were extracted from pressed palm fiber using supercritical CO2 and microencapsulated by spray-drying with gum Arabic. Twenty-eight tests were made. Emulsions were characterized with respect to droplet size and viscosity. The effects of solid content and spray-drying conditions on moisture, hygroscopicity, microencapsulation efficiency, and powder lipid oxidation were investigated. Particles produced at optimized process (35% of solids, feed flow of 26%, temperature of 166 °C, and atomization air flow of 40 mm) were evaluated for major carotenoids identification and fatty acid profile. Higher solid content led to higher encapsulation efficiency and lower lipid oxidation, which was related to the higher emulsion viscosity and lower droplet size. Increasing atomization air flow and temperature resulted in higher lipid oxidation. Moisture increased and higroscopicity decreased when higher feed flow and lower temperature were used. Microparticles presented high content of monounsaturated fatty acids, α-, β-, and (9Z)-β-carotene and reflected the composition of un-encapsulated oil.