Fragrance carriers obtained by encapsulation of volatile aromas into zeolite structures

Abstract

Encapsulation of fragrances into porous materials is a technique to preserve or mask the odor of aroma compounds as well as to enhance their thermal and oxidative stability. There is great interest in studying the potential of essential oil-derived fragrance carriers using low-cost materials such as zeolitic structures for healthcare, food, textiles or agricultural applications. Two zeolite structures, faujasite (FAU) and mordonite (MOR) were used as carriers for encapsulation of different fragrances present in essential oils, in order to prepare stable fragrance carriers. To this purpose, commercial vanillin (Van) was encapsulated in NaMOR, commercial D -limonene (Lim) and cinnamaldehyde (Cinn), extracted from cinnamon stick, were encapsulated into NaY and NaX, respectively, and methyl anthranilate (MA), a synthetized fragrance with a fruity grape scent, was encapsulated in NaY. The retention of fragrances in zeolite structures increased in the order NaX < NaY < MOR for cinnamaldehyde, limonene, methyl anthranilate or vanillin. The most promising fragrance carriers prepared, MA@NaY and Van@MOR, were monitored for 24 months, and fragrances release was determined by TGA analysis, being 64.5 % for Van@MOR and 63.2 % for MA@NaY. A zero-order desorption kinetic model was determined for both fragrance carriers. • Easy preparation of fragrance carriers based on zeolites, FAU and MOR by encapsulation. • Aromas obtained from essential oils as volatile fragrances. • Release at long time of the fragrances achieved with stable MA@NaY and Van@NaMOR. • Zero-order kinetic model with a linear aroma evaporation.