Microencapsulation of Peppermint Oil by Complex Coacervation and Subsequent Spray Drying Using Bovine Serum Albumin/Gum Acacia and an Oxidized Starch Crosslinker

Most liquid food flavours such as essential oils are volatile and prone to degradation in the presence of oxygen, light, moisture and high temperatures. Microencapsulation of volatile ingredients prior to use in food or beverages is a commonly used process to limit loss and degradation of flavours and aromas during processing and storage. Here, peppermint essential oil was microencapsulated via complex coacervation using a combination of bovine serum albumin and gum Acacia as wall materials. The resulting core-shell microcapsules were chemically crosslinked with a modified food-grade starch, and subsequently spray dried, resulting in dry microcapsules which could be easily redispersed in aqueous solutions. Microcapsule formation and stability, as well as microencapsulation yield of peppermint oil, were investigated as a function of polymer concentration, core material load/wall thickness and crosslinker concentration. The crosslinked peppermint oil microcapsules were spherical and mononuclear both before and after spray drying and redispersion, whereas control coacervate samples without crosslinker did not withstand the spray drying process. Microencapsulation yield as analysed by GC-MS showed no loss of peppermint oil during or after complex coacervation, and 54% loss after spray drying for the best combination of Polymer:Oil ratio and crosslinker concentration used here, indicating good overall protection of the core material.

Automated summary

The study focused on microencapsulating peppermint essential oil via complex coacervation using bovine serum albumin and gum acacia as wall materials, followed by chemical crosslinking with modified food-grade starch and spray drying. The resulting dry microcapsules were easily redispersed in aqueous solutions. Microcapsule formation and stability, as well as microencapsulation yield, were influenced by polymer concentration, core material load/wall thickness, and crosslinker concentration.