Microencapsulation of Essential Oils by Spray Drying: Effect of Wall Material Composition and Process Conditions

Abstract

Use of plant essential oils for perfumery, additives in food/confectionary as well as for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics is a growing market trend. A rapid increase has been observed in the number of essential oil derived products. However, essential oils are limited by the instability of light, heat, air, moisture, and volatility at room temperature; cause essential oils lose their stabilization and pharmacological activity. Currently, pharmaceutical techniques are applied to enhance the stability of essential oils. Microencapsulation of essential oils by spray drying is a process that encapsulates substances (solid, liquid, gas state) with polymer. Product in the form of a small capsule called microcapsule, which ranges from 1 to 800 micrometers. The encapsulation process is effective in preventing evaporation, oxidation reaction and destroyed by heat, light, humidity and air. Factors affecting the drying process that affect the physicochemical properties of microcapsules are the feed rate, pressure and flow rate of the air, Inlet and outlet temperature, and physical properties of wall material. Thus, microcapsules of the essential oil by spray drying, it helps to change the substance status from liquid to solid and this facilitates the transport process and shelf-life of storage, the product also has good release control properties, increased efficiency and security in delivery.