Spray drying
b-carotene emulsion (14 L) was spray-dried using a Niro pilotscale spray drier with a rotary atomizer. The inlet air temperature was maintained at 160 ± 2 C; air pressure of 0.5 MPa; feeding rate 18 mL/min. The spray-dried powders were collected in glass bottles and wrapped with aluminum foil, flushed with nitrogen, hermetically sealed and stored at 20 C.