Innovative Solution for Powder Production in the Food Industry - Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions

摘要

Many solid products used in the food industry are preferably applied in the form of fine-dispersed powders. Classical methods such as crystallization, (spray) drying, grinding, and sieving offer certain well known possibilities to generate powders. However, if very small particle sizes are required, or non-brittle substances have to be reduced to the micro scale, limits of traditional processes are reached. In such cases, a solution can be found in modern high-pressure processes. One of these processes is called PGSS (Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions). This process runs at low temperatures with pressurized carbon dioxide and is suitable for products that are sensitive to heat or oxidation. Inert packaging can easily be integrated. The use of organic solvents, emulsifying agents or other additives can be avoided. For these reasons the PGSS process operates at especially gentle conditions and is environmentally compliant. The possibilities of the PGSS process have successfully been demonstrated over the last years for numerous solids and liquids. Recently it was demonstrated, that the PGSS technology is suitable for generating fluid-filled particles for food applications. The encapsulation technique itself as well as the influence of process parameters on powder and product properties will be outlined in this article.