Modeling of Controlled Release of Betacarotene Microcapsules in Ethyl Acetate

Abstract

In this work several models of mass transfer process were used for modelling and simulating active principles release of polymeric microcapsules of the matrix type. To demonstrate the performance of each model compared to the experimental data, a statistical analysis using the F test was done. The following mathematical models were used on this mass transfer problem: 2a. Law of Fick (CDMASSA), LDF - Linear Drive Force, analytical model and others semiempiricals models. The results obtained were compared with those available in the literature. In this work the release of the active ingredient betacarotene, contained in microcapsules (PHBV) in the solvent ethyl acetate, was studied. It was observed that the model obtained from the 2a. Law of Fick fits better on the literature data compared to the models: LDF, analytical andsemiempirical. s. The most complete model, based on the phenomenology of the problem, provide a better result, considering that it was able to represent the fundamental stages of the mass transfer process, such as the resistance to mass transfer on the microcapsule surface, werethe numerical results were very close to the experimental results.