Prediction of folic acid retention during spray dehydration

Abstract

An approach for the prediction of nutrient retention during the process of spray dehydration is presented. An Anhydro Compact Spray-Drier with centrifugal atomization was used. A relatively inert microcrystalline cellulose/CMC model system was selected as the feed with the incorporation of folic acid as the test nutrient. Relative humidity and temperature profiles were developed as a function of the vertical distance within the chamber and related to folic acid degradation and moisture content of the drying particles. Response surface methodology and multiple regression analysis were used to develop a predictive equation for final folic acid retention during spray-drying. Although the development of mechanistic models may provide a more general method to the solution of a predictive equation for nutrient retention during spray-drying, it was found that the development of an empirical model would provide an accurate, more practical approach for the purposes of quality control in the food industry.