Spray-drying microencapsulation and oxidative stability of conjugated linoleic acid

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as the free acid was microencapsulated using whey protein concentrate (WPC) as a wall material. An emulsion of CLA was prepared using an emulsifier formulated with a 1:4 (w/w) ratio of a 30% WPC solution and was spray-dried with a laboratory unit. Microcapsules were stored at 35 and 45 °C at different water activities. Oxidation was monitored by measuring the CLA concentration, and peroxide, anisidine and total oxidation values. The encapsulation efficiency was 89.60% with a surface oil concentration of 1.77 g/100 g of sample. Microcapsules stored at a^sub w^=0.743-0.898 had very good stability against oxidation for at least 60 days; therefore WPC is considered as an effective microencapsulating agent.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]