Inulin-coated Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) powder produced by spray drying

Abstract

The aim of this study is to produce inulin-coated virgin coconut oil (VCO) powder using spray drying technology. VCO, known for its high content of medium-chain fatty acids and antioxidants, has faced challenges in food and pharmaceutical applications due to its susceptibility to oxidation thus reducing its shelf-life. Inulin as the encapsulating agent, presented an effective solution, offering not only encapsulation efficiency but also added health benefits as prebiotics. The process parameters, such as inlet air temperature (110–180 °C), feed flow rate (5–8 mL/min), aspiration rate (80–100 %), and air pressure at nozzle (1–1.8 bar) as well as total solid percentage in the emulsion feed (45–55 %) were varied. The best conditions were identified as inlet air temperature 150 °C, feed flow rate 5 ml/min, aspiration rate 100 %, air pressure at nozzle 1 bar, and 50 % total solid content to produce powder with high yield (∼88 %), low moisture content (2.9 %), and other desirable characteristics, such as density, particle size, morphology, and flowability. This study provides a framework for producing scalable inulin-coated VCO powder with enhanced shelf-life, functionality, and versatile applications in health-oriented food and pharmaceuticals.