Effect of carrier agents on physical and microstructural properties of spray dried tamarind pulp powder

The aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of carrier type and its addition rate on physical and microstructural properties of spray dried tamarind pulp powder. A tall type laboratory scale spray dryer was employed for spray drying process and maltodextrin-DE 20, gum arabic and whey protein concentrate were used as carrier agents. All the carrier agents showed improvement in product recovery on increasing their concentration in feed material, with whey protein concentrate giving a higher product recovery of 76.23%. Color properties and moisture content of the powder samples were significantly affected by the carrier type and its addition rate, with moisture content ranging from 3.65 to 7.11%. Bulk density and hygroscopicity of the powders decreased with increase in concentration of the carrier agent in the feed material and powders with WPC showed lower values of hygroscopicity. Dispersibility of the powders ranged from 68.08 to 79.63, which is within the desired range. Microstructural analysis of TPPs revealed powder particles of various sizes and shapes (spherical, irregular and shrunk). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.