Spray-dried orange powders

Table I. Emulsion Size of Spray Dried Orange Powders...

A recent study has been performed on various spray dried orange flavors(20% oil fixed in the powder) encapsulated on various Acacia gums and on mixtures of Acacia gums and malto-dextrins. The aromas in powder were tested by chromatography and then examined by electronic microscopy. This clearly shows the regular and uniform film covering each particle 10 to 40 microns in diameter. Prints of broken particles reveal numerous oil droplets (1 micron in diameter) spread in a gum nucleus. Protection of the oil phase then becomes fully effective. 

Orange terpenes were emulsified in various carrier s and spray-dried. The spray-dried powders were aged for 3 days at 80 C in a draft oven. Beta-pinene is an oxidation product in orange terpenes which can be measured by GC. The beta-pinene level is proportional to the degree of oxidation of the orange terpenes. High levels of beta-pinene content in the spray-dried powders indicate poor oxidation resistance imparted to the encapsulated terpenes by the carrier. 

Sensory Analysis. A paired comparison test was run to determine if the difference in oil droplet size in the emulsion changed the perceived intensity of the orange flavor. The coarsest emulsion (3.87 pM) and the Microfluidized sample (0.90 pM) from the third set of spray dried samples were compared. The solutions were prepared using 200 ppm flavor in a 10% (w/v) sucrose solution with 0.30% of a 50% citric acid solution added. The amount of each powder required to attain 200 ppm orange oil was calculated on the basis of percent oil in each powder (determined by Clevenger analysis). A pair of samples at approximately 10 C was given to each of 24 untrained panelists. The samples were coded with random numbers. Half the panelists were asked to taste the coarsest sample first while while the other half tasted the Microfluidized sample first. This was done to determine whether or not adaptation was a factor. The panelists were asked to indicate which sample had the most intense orange flavor. 

Water Activity The role of water activity in determining shelf life of the spray-dried powders is of interest. It is well documented in the literature that lipid oxidation is slowest at the monolayer (water activity ca. 0.2) and will increase on either side of the monolayer. Anker and Reineccius [86] found that shelf life of orange peel oil encapsulated in gum Arabic increased with water activity within the range of water... 

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