Scale-up production of vitamin loaded heteroprotein coacervates and their protective property

- Folic acid-loaded heteroprotein complex coacervates were produced at bench scale.
- Optimal coacervation yield was at 65%, with B9 encapsulation efficiency of 98%.
- Heteroprotein coacervates protect folic acid during storage.
- Heteroprotein coacervates ca be used for encapsulation of functional ingredient.

The production of biocarriers for the protection and controlled delivery of bioactives is of great interest to develop functional foods. The ability of two whey proteins (WP), Beta-Lactoglobulin (BLG) and Lactoferrin (LF), to efficiently entrap vitamin B9 by complex coacervation has been reported at laboratory scale. In the present work, we report on the scaling-up production of B9 loaded BLG-LF coacervates (B9-WP coacervates). Complex coacervation was performed at bench scale, using commercial protein solutions. Under optimized conditions, B9-WP coacervates were produced by static mixing at a flow rate of 300 mL/min. Bench scale efficiency similar to that found for laboratory scale was reached with a coacervation yield of 65% and the B9 entrapment of 98%, demonstrating an efficient scaling-up. B9-WP coacervates showed good protection property for B9 during storage treatments, confirming the efficiency of this type of biocarrier for the development of natural functional foods.