Characterization of membrane processed honey and the effect of ultrafiltration with diafiltration on subsequent spray drying

Canola flower honey solution and glucose/fructose solution were subjected to ultrafiltration (UF) coupled with diafiltration (DF) with the use of 15 kDa ceramic membrane in order to partially remove sugars (with the rejection of proteins at the same time), and enhance a subsequent spray drying process. Membrane processing affected honey solution chemical composition, what was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - ATR spectroscopy analysis. 50% of sugars was removed from honey solution, while 74% of nitrogen-based compounds was rejected by membrane. Honey pretreatment by UF/DF enhanced the yield of subsequent spray drying process with the application of gum arabic as a drying carrier. Obtained powders, containing 60% of honey solids were fully amorphous (verified by morphology observation and Xray diffraction), with physical properties typical for sugar-rich material dehydrated by spray drying. It was possible to reduce carrier content in honey powder to 40% solids, with a maintenance of drying yield above 50% at the same time. However, the flowability was not enhanced because of UF/DF pretreatment (but it was also not deteriorated).