Freeze-Drying Chlorella vulgaris by Using Aquafaba, Deactivated Yeast, Inulin and Maltodextrin

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Biotechnology
• Algal Research

Background:

• Previous research explored spray-drying for Chlorella vulgaris encapsulation with novel wall materials.
• Freeze-drying is a major and widely utilized encapsulation technique, necessitating further investigation for microalgae biomass.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate freeze-drying as an encapsulation method for Chlorella vulgaris biomass.
• To assess the efficacy of novel wall materials, including deactivated yeast and aquafaba, in microalgae encapsulation.
• To determine the impact of various wall material combinations on the quality and properties of encapsulated C. vulgaris.

Main Methods:

• Utilized freeze-drying for encapsulating Chlorella vulgaris biomass.
• Employed Simplex-Lattice Mixture Design for experimental design.
• Investigated combinations of maltodextrin, inulin, aquafaba, and deactivated yeast as wall materials.

Main Results:

• Developed significant predictive models for moisture, total carotenoid, total chlorophylls, and crude protein content (p < 0.05).
• Quantified pigment, crude protein, physicochemical, color, wettability, and hygroscopicity properties.
• Observed that maltodextrin ratio significantly influenced sample size and coalescence trends.

Conclusions:

• Deactivated yeast and aquafaba demonstrate significant potential as novel wall materials for microalgae encapsulation and drying.
• Freeze-drying is a viable technique for encapsulating C. vulgaris biomass with these innovative materials.
• The study provides valuable insights into optimizing microalgae encapsulation using sustainable and effective wall materials.