Effects of drying conditions on the Physical and chemical properties of pumpkin seed oil powder

The aim of the present study was to investigating the effects of some process conditions on the microencapsulation of pumpkin seed oil (PSO). The laboratory spray dryer wasused for microencapsulating of PSO. Gum Arabic, maltodextrin DE-6, and whey protein concentrate (WPC) were used as wall materials of the microcapsules. Independent variables examined in this study were inlet drying air temperature (140-180 ͦC), aspirator rate (55-75%), and pump feed rate percent (5-15%), and dependent variables were moisture content (%W.b.), average particle size (μm), bulk density (kg/m3), microencapsulation efficiency (%), and peroxide value (meq of peroxide 1000-1 sample). The RSM method was applied to establish the relationship between theindependent and dependent variables. Consequently, the optimum drying conditions for microencapsulation of PSO with maximum MEE and minimum POV was found to be inlet air temperature 141 ͦC, aspirator rate 75 %, and pump feed rate percent 15%. The optimized powder produced according to this conditions and its chemical properties studied.