ENCAPSULATION PROCESSES

摘要

Disclosed is a process for producing amorphous carbohydrate granules containing a functional ingredient encapsulated therein. The process comprises: providing a carbohydrate mixture comprising 35 - 75% by weight of a water-soluble polymeric carbohydrate and 25 - 65% by weight sucrose; feeding the carbohydrate mixture to a twin screw extruder; feeding 0.1-5% by weight water to the extruder; feeding the functional ingredient to the extruder; mixing in the extruder to provide a substantially even distribution of water and the functional ingredient in the carbohydrate mixture; heating the substantially uniform mixture in the extruder to a temperature of from about 140°C to about 190°C, wherein said temperature is sufficient to melt all crystals of carbohydrate present in the mixture and is, at least in part controlled, by the amount of water added; applying dispersive shear forces to the melt to gain a desired particle size of the functional ingredient within the carbohydrate matrix; cooling the heated mixture both in the extruder and post the extruder to yield an amorphous solid material containing the functional ingredient encapsulated therein; and cutting or grinding the solid material thus obtained to form said amorphous carbohydrate granules.