The mean drop size obtained from the simple emulsion was 11.76 ± 2.38 μm. Table 3 shows the values obtained for the drop sizes from the double emulsions and of the particles in the coacervates prior to freeze drying. As expected, the mean drop sizes produced by double emulsion were smaller than the mean sizes of the non-dehydrated coacervated microcapsules because the double emulsion corresponds to the second step in the process and coacervation corresponds to the final step, in which gum arabic is added as a coating, which should confer greater protection of the AA. There was a significant difference among the treatments, indicating that different core/encapsulating agent ratios affected the mean diameter of the particles
corresponding to the double emulsions and coacervates.