European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREPARATION OF A NOVEL CURCUMIN INSTANT GREEN TEA POWDER: OPTIMIZATION OF THE SPRAY-DRYING PROCESS BY RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Liandong Hu*, Na Zhao, Qiaofeng Hu, Peishan Li, Yaxing Zhao, Hongxin Xu, Xunyang

ABSTRACT

The objective of this work was to optimize the spray-drying conditions for the preparation of curcumin instant green tea powder (Cur-IGTP) using response surface methodology (RSM). Firstly, curcumin nanosuspension and filtrated green tea concentrate solution were prepared respectively and mixed together, and then the mixture was spray-dried to obtain Cur-IGTP. The independent variables of spray drying such as inlet air temperature, feed flow rate and drying air flow speed were optimized using a Box–Behnken design, moisture content and yield were analyzed as responses. The morphology, sensory, solubility bulk density and physical stability of spray-dried Cur-IGTP were characterized. An inlet air temperature of 147.5 ºC, a feed flow rate of 1.97 mL/min and a drying air flow speed of 62.0 L/min was selected as the optimal conditions. At the optimal conditions, the yield reached a maximum of 47.2% and moisture content reached 4.4%, which provides an efficient process for production of Cur-IGTP.

Keywords: curcumin; wet milling; green tea; spray drying; optimize.