Optimization and scale-up of the spray drying process for Euglena gracilis

The study presents a spray drying process for Euglena gracilis. Concentrate obtained by a disc centrifuge was used as the starting material. The process was established and scaled up using pilot and production-scale spray drying towers. Optimal conditions for the pilot scale included an inlet temperature of 200 degrees C, an outlet temperature of 85 degrees C, and a solid mass fraction of E. gracilis mud of 12 %. Key parameters influencing E. gracilis powder physicochemical indexes were identified by correlation analysis as drying time for droplets (Tdrying), which can be adjusted by the outlet air temperature, the Peclet number for mass (Pemass), and heat (Peheat), and the evaporation rate (dwdt ), all of which can be adjusted by the outlet temperature. The process was successfully scaled up by optimizing the outlet temperature, achieving a productivity of 36.63 kg & sdot;h- 1 and a yield of 98.35 %. This work offers a commercially viable method for large-scale E. gracilis powder production.