Microencapsulation of flax oil with zein using spray and freeze drying

Microencapsulation of flax oil was investigated using zein as the coating material. Central Composite Design - Face Centered was used to optimize the microencapsulation with respect to zein concentration (x(1)) and flax oil concentration (x(2)) using spray drying. Also, freeze drying was carried out at two zein:oil ratios. The quality of microcapsules was evaluated by determining encapsulation efficiency, flowing properties (Hausner ratio), and evaluating the morphology with scanning electron microscopy. The response surface model for microencapsulation efficiency showed a high coefficient of determination (R-2 = 0.992) and a non-significant lack of fit (p = 0.256). The maximum microencapsulation efficiencies were 93.26 +/- 0.95 and 59.63 +/- 0.36% for spray drying and freeze drying, respectively. However, microcapsules prepared by spray and freeze drying had very poor handling properties based on the Hausner ratio. The bulk density decreased with an increase in zein concentration at the same flax oil concentration. The morphology of the flax oil microcapsules depended on the zein:flax oil ratio and the process used for microencapsulation. Flax oil microcapsules prepared by spray drying appeared to be composed of heterogeneous spheres of various sizes at high zein:flax oil ratios. Microcapsules prepared by freeze drying resulted in agglomerated small spheres. These microcapsules might find a niche as functional food ingredients. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.