The main goal of this work was to generate mechanistic knowledge that facilitates the design of spray drying processes with pressure swirl atomizers for a targeted setting of oil droplet size in emulsion-based powder products. Specifically, this work aimed to investigate the phenomena of oil droplet breakup and coalescence during the atomization and the subsequent drying step of spray drying of emulsions. Experimental investigations were performed in an atomization rig and a pilot-scale spray dryer using model food emulsions. The influence of relevant process and formulation parameters was investigated thereby. Based on the gained knowledge, theoretical models were developed and assessed to serve as process functions to predict oil droplet breakup processes. Furthermore, existing experimental techniques based on single droplet experiments were evaluated to serve as a tool for prediction of coalescence processes. Overall, the findings of this work are a step towards a knowledge-based design of spray drying processes for emulsion-based powder products.
Martha Lia Taboada Barrios
emulsions spray drying pressure swirl atomizer