Microencapsulation by Spray Drying of Multiple Emulsions Containing Carotenoids

ABSTRACT: Water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W1/O/W 2 ) multiple emulsions with 25% and 35% solids contents were spray‐dried producing microcapsules with 3.9:1, 2.6:1, and 1.4:1 biopolymers blend to primary emulsion ratios and 0.25% (w/w) theoretical carotenoids concentration. Microcapsules with better morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and larger particle size were those obtained from higher biopolymers blend to primary emulsion ratios and solids content, but showed relatively higher carotenoids degradation kinetics than microcapsules made with lower biopolymers blend to primary emulsion ratios and solids content, which exhibited poorer morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and smaller particle size. Microcapsules stored at different water activities showed maximum carotenoids degradation at a water activity (a w ) of 0.628, with lower carotenoids degradation occurring at lower or higher a w .