Chemometry as applied to the production of omega-3 microcapsules by complex coacervation with soy protein isolate and gum Arabic

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of varying the concentrations of the wall materials (soy protein isolate/gum Arabic, SPI:GA), the ratio of the wall material to the core material and the concentration of the reticulating agent (TG) in the production of omega-3 ethyl ester microcapsules by complex coacervation, using a central compound rotational design (CCRD) and analyzing the results by response surface methodology (RSM). The only dependent variable capable of obtaining a mathematical model was encapsulation process yield, which has a maximum peak at C5 (2.6:1.0 wall:core and 1.8:1.0 SPI:GA). The trials C12 (1.5:1.0 SPI:GA; 1.0:1.0 wall:core; 6.0 UA of TG/g) and C14 (1.5:1.0 SPI:GA; 2.0:1.0 wall:core; 10.0 UA of TG/g) would have to add 0.40 g or 0.45 g of microcapsules to 100 g or 100 mL portions of foods for them to be considered as having functional properties, respectively. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.