SBIR Phase I: No Heat Spray Drying Technology

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）一期项目旨在消除液体乳剂喷雾干燥成粉末过程中的热量使用。通常情况下，液体乳液由高价值液体成分与载体系统乳化组成，该载体系统在干燥时以粉末形式捕获液体成分。传统的喷雾干燥使用加热到华氏400度的空气将液体干燥成粉末。然而，将敏感的挥发性液体成分暴露在高温下会导致分子降解，从而对性能产生负面影响。通过消除热量的使用，预计粉末的质量，溶解度，稳定性和整体性能将得到显着改善。这个项目将着重于设计新的干燥设备，配制乳剂，降低成品粉末中的水分含量。该项目的更广泛/商业影响将是提供一种创新的、商业上可行的无热喷雾干燥技术，能够生产大量粉状产品，用于需要生产自由流动粉末的食品、化学品、益生菌和药品。这种无热喷雾干燥工艺有望延长保质期，创造更好的溶解度，降低成本并提供更有效的产品，使液体质量的香料和成分以粉末形式存在。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to eliminate the use of heat during the process of spray drying liquid emulsions into powders. Typically, a liquid emulsion consists of a high-value liquid ingredient emulsified with a carrier system that when dried captures the liquid ingredient in a powdered form. Traditional spray drying employs air heated up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to dry the liquids into powders. However, exposing sensitive, volatile liquid ingredients to high temperatures causes molecular degradation that negatively impacts performance. By eliminating the use of heat, it is expected that the quality, solubility, stability and overall performance of powders will be significantly improved. This project will focus on designing novel drying equipment, formulating emulsions, and reducing moisture content in the finished powders. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to provide an innovative, commercially viable no-heat spray drying technology with the ability to manufacture significant amounts of powdered products for applications in foods, chemicals, probiotics and pharmaceuticals where the production of a free-flowing powder is required. This no-heat spray drying process is anticipated to improve shelf life, create better solubility, reduce costs and deliver a more efficacious product, enabling liquid quality flavors and ingredients in a powder form.