2.5. Encapsulation efficiency of the beads
Using a mortar and a pestle, the beads were crushed and β-carotene was extracted from a sample applying the USP XXII (1990) method. The sample was assayed for β-carotene spectrophotometrically at 455 nm. Furcellaran did not interfere with the absorbance at that wavelength. Encapsulation
efficiency is the amount of β-carotene encapsulated with respect to the initial amount of β-carotene taken. It was calulated by using following formulae: