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MICROENCAPSULATION - OF - ASCORBIC - ACID - IN - M Rasa PDF
MICROENCAPSULATION - OF - ASCORBIC - ACID - IN - M Rasa PDF
Abstract. Over the last few years there has been a tendency in the food industry to fortify products with
vitamins to cover the intakes recommended by competent organizations. In an attempt to improve its
manipulation and distribution within the food and to obtain a product which is more nutritionally complete,
the microencapsulation of vitamin C was studied. In this study, we produced microcapsules of ascorbic acid
using an economical and simple process (spray drying) and three types of covering materials (derivates of
starch). These materials are good substitute of gum Arabic because they cost less and they are available from
different sources as potato and manioc. Ascorbic acid microencapsulation was carried out through the use of
spray-dryer technique using maltodextrin, Capsul and a mixture of both as covering. Microcapsules
containing 10 and 20% of ascorbic acid were produced. The morfology of the microcapsules was observed by
a scanning electron microscopy, whose analysis showed a tendency of agglomeration. The outer surfaces of
the capsules showed only a few pores or cracks. Particle size analysis showed a multi-modal particle size
distribution, but with a main mode in intermediate diameters range (4 – 8 µm). Ascorbic acid stability was
studied for particles stored, at both, room temperature and at 45oC showing 100% of retention at the
beginning. Microcapsules containing 20% of ascorbic acid recovered by a mixture presented only 7% of
ascorbic acid reduction in samples for up to 60 days stored at 28oC temperature.
1. Introduction
*
To whom all correspondence should be addressed. 1
Address: Escola de Química, UFRJ - Centro de Tecnologia, Bl.E, 21949-900 Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
E-mail: priscilla.finotelli@ig.com.br
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formation of an emulsion or suspension of coating and core material, and 2) nebulization of the emulsion into a
drying chamber containing circulating hot dry air (Jackson et al 1991). Water-soluble materials may also be
encapsulated. However, instead of having a clearly defined core and coating, the product consists of a
homogeneously blended matrix of polymer entrapping the core and they are also said to be covered with a very
fine film of coating (Dziezak 1988). In the case of solutions, the core and the polymer are co-dissolved in a
common solvent and spray dried. The solution is fed to the spray dryer and atomised. Upon solvent evaporation,
the polymer precipitates and entraps the precipitated crystal (Ré 1998).
Carbohydrates have been used as wall material to microencapsulate food ingredients. The food industry is
currently emphasizing the use of ‘natural’ rather than synthetic ingredients. The formulations are therefore based
on maltodextrins or starch hydrolysis products, on sugar, on polysaccharides derived from plants either terrestrial
or marine, or from microorganisms (Karel 1990). Maltodextrins are non sweet nutritive polysaccharides
consisted of: α(1-4)-linked D-glucose produced by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of corn starch. Although
maltodextrins do not promote good retention of volatile compounds during the spray drying process, they protect
encapsulated ingredients from oxidation (Reineccius 1991, Ré 1998). Capsul is a chemically modified starch by
incorporation of lipophilic component. This modified starch provides excellent retention of volatiles during spray
drying and it can be used at a high infeed solids level (compared to gum acacia), and affords outstanding
emulsion stability (Shahidi et al 1993, Reineccius 1991, Marchal et al 1999). Other materials can be used to
microencapsulate the ascorbic acid. Esposito and co-workers (Esposito et al 2002) used methacrylate
copolymers called Eudragit for the production of ascorbic acid microcapsules by spray drying. This wall
material is able to offer a controlled delivery in different pH and it exhibits a very low permeability.
Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, ascorbate, or ascorbate monoanion. It is the enolic form of an α-
ketolactone. Vitamin C works physiologically as a water soluble antioxidant by virtue of its high reducing power.
It acts as singlet oxygen quenchers, and it is capable of regenerating vitamin E. Vitamin C is called antioxidant
because of its ability of quenching or stabilizing free radicals that lead over time to degenerative diseases,
including cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and other diseases (Goodman & Gilman 1996, Rodrigues-
Amaya et al 1997, Hamilton et al 2000, Elliott 1999).
Ascorbic acid properties are impaired by its high reactivity, and hence, poor stability in solution, which can
result in heavy losses during food processing. It can be degraded rapidly in the presence of oxygen, free-radical
mediated oxidative processes. The processes are strongly catalysed by transition metal ions, specially iron and
cooper, leading to rapid destruction of the ascorbate. Oxidation is also accelerated at neutral pH and above.
Destruction can be occurred by presence of enzymes as ascorbate oxidase and a ascorbate peroxidase (Kirby et al
1991).
The food industry will likely employ microencapsulation to produce foods which are more nutritionally
complete. The properties of microencapsulated nutrients will allow the food processor greater flexibility and
control in developing foods with high nutritional value (Jackson 1991). Ascorbic acid is added extensively to
many types of food products for two quite different purposes: as a vitamin supplements to reinforce dietary intake
of vitamin C, and as an antioxidant, to protect the sensory and nutritive quality of the food itself (Kirby 1991).
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Therefore, the objective of this study was to produce microcapsules of antioxidant vitamin (ascorbic acid) by
spray drying using Capsul and maltodextrin for application in the food industry as fortification. Microcapsules of
vitamin C could be potentially incorporated in dry form into cake mixes, puddings, gelatine desserts, chewing
gum, milk powder, jellies, pet foods, breakfast cereals, in short, into products with low water activity. On the
other hand, for application in liquid food systems, the best way to protect water-soluble ingredients is by
encapsulation in lipossomes.
Fig. 1. Structure of microcapsules: (A) Capsul + 10% Ascorbic Acid; Bar = 1 µm (B) Capsul + 20% Ascorbic Acid; Bar = 5
µm (C) Capsul/Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid; Bar = 5 µm (D) Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid; Bar = 1 µm (E)
Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid; Bar = 5 µm (F) Capsul/Maltodextrin + 20% Ascorbic Acid. Bar = 5 µm.
Morphologic analysis showed the size, the shape and common aspects of the microcapsules made from
different wall materials and a tendency of agglomeration of the smallest particles between themselves and the
biggest ones was observed. Although the outer surfaces of the capsules had irregularities (some dents), they
showed only a few pores or cracks and they were predominant in microcapsules of ascorbic acid and Capsul. The
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presence of these dents has an adverse effect on the flow proprieties of microencapsulated product powders, but
they do not affect ascorbic acid stability. Many properties of a microencapsulated system result from its structure.
Retention and protection in a microencapsulated product are related to the porosity and degree of integrity of
microcapsules (Rosenberg et al 1990).
The outer surfaces of the spray-dried microcapsules are characterized by the presence of dents and these dents
are formed by shrinkage of the particles during drying and cooling, similar dents were observed in the study of
milk powder (Rosenberg et al 1985). Sheu et al 1998 have reported the morphological variations (size, structure
and appearance) of the droplets during the drying process. In many cases, these droplets, spherical in the
beginning, form particles with irregular surfaces (folds) due to internal formation of vacuoles and dents,
depression and external fracture.
According to Sheu et al 1998 spray-dried microcapsules with wall material consisting of polysaccharides
exhibit notable surface indentations and the formation of indentations has been attributed to effects of wall
composition, atomisation and drying parameters, uneven shrinkage at early stages of drying, and to the effect of a
surface tension-driven viscous flow. The thermal expansion of air or water vapour inside the drying particles
(‘ballooning’, associated with high drying rates) can smooth out dents (to a varying extent). The effectiveness of
dent smoothing is dependent of the drying rate and on viscoelastic properties of the wall matrix.
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
E) (F)
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Fig. 2. Particle Size Distribution: (A) Capsul + 10% Ascorbic Acid; (B) Capsul + 20% Ascorbic Acid; (C)
Capsul/Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid; (D) Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid; (E) Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid;
(F) Capsul/Maltodextrin + 20% Ascorbic Acid.
Capsul + 10% Ascorbic Acid 1.096 ± 0.003 6.267 ± 0.003 14.14 ± 0.01
Capsul/Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid 1.021 ± 0.002 5.83 ± 0.03 12.82 ± 0.07
Capsul/Maltodextrin + 20% Ascorbic Acid 0.967 ± 0.000 4.811 ± 0.004 10.89 ± 0.03
Maltodextrin + 10% Ascorbic Acid 0,971 ± 0,005 4.75 ± 0.08 10.30 ± 0.02
Maltodextrin + 20% Ascorbic Acid 1.030 ± 0.005 6.95 ± 0.06 18.1 ± 0.2
* Triplicates average
The smallest particles were produced by microcapsules containing maltodextrin and 10% of ascorbic acid
with diameter in the range 0.971 – 10.30 µm, and the main diameter was 4.75 µm. The biggest particles were
produced by microcapsules containing Capsul and 20% of ascorbic acid, the diameter ranging from 1.38 to 24
µm, and the main diameter was 7.6 µm.
Microcapsules whose wall material was Capsul/maltodextrin showed the narrowest size distribution, exactly
what we wished, because the narrower is the distribution the more homogenous are the particles so, this way, we
can obtain better stability and accuracy release.
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by spray drying obtained high encapsulation efficiencies, comprised between 98 – 100%. The retention obtained
in this work evidences the efficiency of microencapsulation with the wall materials tested, and it confirms that the
permanence time into drying chamber is short (5-30s) or at least, it is not the necessary time for ascorbic acid
degradation. Ascorbic acid was encapsulated inside liposomes by dehydration/rehydration procedure of Kirby
and others 1991. Although they got good ascorbic acid stability, the efficiency of encapsulation was less (53 e
58%) than the efficiency obtained in this work. Pure ascorbic acid was studied by Trindade et al 2000 and they
confirmed its instability in contact with the environmental. Margolis et al 2001 observed a significant decrease in
the concentration of ascorbic acid not microencapsulated when they tested it in different conditions. Pure ascorbic
acid was stored at room temperature and same conditions and it presented a significant decrease in the
concentration of ascorbic acid. In 30 days, 10% of ascorbic acid was degradated, 15% in 45 days and 20% in 60
days. Due to poor ascorbic acid stability it confirms the importance of microencapsulates this vitamin.
Table 2 shows the results of microcapsules analysis containing 10% of ascorbic acid stored at room
temperature, relating the percentages of retention. The three different wall materials offered the same stability for
ascorbic acid during the storage time (p<0.05).
A A A A
Maltodextrin/Capsul a100 a100 a91 b84
A A A A
Maltodextrin a100 a100 a90 b85
The microcapsules of ascorbic acid and Capsul showed some reduction for 45 days storage (around 15%),
and they maintained constant until 60 days. The microcapsules whose wall material was Capsul and maltodextrin
showed reduction after 60 days storage (around 15%). The same results were found for microcapsules of ascorbic
acid and maltodextrin.
The results found for microcapsules containing 20% of ascorbic acid and stored at room temperature can be
observed in the Table 3. Statistically, differences (p<0.05) between microcapsules recovered by the mixture of
Capsul/maltodextrin and microcapsules recovered by Capsul and maltodextrin individually were observed.
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A A B B
Maltodextrin/Capsul a100 a,b100 b95 c93
A A A A
Maltodextrin a100 a100 b92 b88
During 45 days of storage, microcapsules of ascorbic acid recovered by Capsul and maltodextrin individually
presented reduction about 10%, meanwhile microcapsules of ascorbic acid recovered by the mixture
(Capsul/maltodextrin) presented reduction about 5%. Until 60 days, these last microcapsules had more 2% of
reduction, resulting in 7% of total loss and the other kept constant.
The Table 4 shows the results of stability analysis for microcapsules containing 10% of ascorbic acid stored
at 45oC. The statistical analysis showed again that there were no differences between the samples from the
different wall materials in relation to loss of stability.
A A A A
Maltodextrin/Capsul a100 b77 b76 c64
A A A A
Maltodextrin a100 b77 b72 b69
Microcapsules of ascorbic acid and Capsul had some reduction after 30 days (around 25%), keeping constant
in 45 days with a increase (35%) in 60 days. The same behaviour was identified for microcapsules of ascorbic
acid and Capsul/maltodextrin. It was observed some reduction for the microcapsules of ascorbic acid and
maltodextrin after 30 days (around 25%) and keeping constant until 60 days.
Finally, the Table 5 shows the results obtained for microcapsules containing 20% of ascorbic acid stored at
45oC. The statistics analysis confirmed that there was difference between microcapsules of ascorbic acid
recovered by Capsul and by maltodextrin after 45 days of storage.
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A A A,C A
Maltodextrin/Capsul a100 b83 b76 c65
A A B,C A
Maltodextrin a100 b82 c74 c70
All microcapsules presented reduction after 30 days of storage (around 20%). The ascorbic acid content was
kept constant from 30th to 45th day for microcapsules whose wall material was the Capsul and the mixture,
meanwhile microcapsules recovered by maltodextrin had a reduction (around 10%). After 60 days, microcapsules
recovered by maltodextrin kept its ascorbic acid content (30% loss) and the other had more reduction, resulted in
30% of loss.
The microcapsules that were stored at 45oC had more ascorbic acid content reduction than the microcapsules
that were stored at room temperature, and this confirms once more time that ascorbic acid can be destroyed by
high temperatures.
It was observed that microcapsules containing 20% of ascorbic acid showed better stability than
microcapsules containing 10% of it, that means that the sample with higher concentration was less susceptible to
degradation because the big amount of ascorbic acid created a resistance to the penetration (action) of oxygen
and light.
Trindade et al 2000 produced microcapsules of ascorbic acid (8 and 10%) with starch and arabic gum by
spray drying and evaluated its stability. He observed a good stability for microcapsules recovered by arabic gum
stored at room temperature, on the other hand, microcapsules recovered by starch suffered ascorbic acid
reduction (10-15%). In 30 days of storage at 45oC, the microcapsules had reduction from 20 to 55%.
4- Conclusion
Based on the results obtained in the present studied, it can be recommended the use of microcapsules
containing 20% of ascorbic acid recovered by the mixture of Capsul/maltodextrin 1:1 for incorporation into some
food as cereals, bread, cookies, etc. This sample presented the best results. It was observed one of the highest
yields (52%), the smallest particles (4.8 µm), and only 7% of ascorbic acid reduction in samples for up to 60 days
stored at 28oC. Studies have confirmed that little particles offer better stability. The particle size analysis showed
a narrow particle size distribution for this sample, so the particles are more homogenous.
It could be observed some synergistic effect between Capsul and maltodextrin to encapsulate ascorbic acid,
and it is probably due to some structure interactions between the involved materials. The stability and
morphology results that presented by microcapsules whose wall material was the mixture had not much influence
from ascorbic acid content, differently for the others.
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5- References
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development
(CNPq/Pronex). The first author is grateful to CAPES for the financial support. The authors also thank Humberto
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B. Novaes and Delmo S. Vaitsman from Laboratory of Analytical Development (LaDA-IQ/UFRJ), Laboratory
of Microscopy from Biophysics Institute (CCS/UFRJ) and Félix Cornejo from Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa
Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) for their collaboration.
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