Symrise invests in extrusion technology for encapsulated flavors

A twin screw extruder from German-based company Coperion went into operation at Symrise AG at the beginning of the year for the encapsulation of flavors.

The extruder with a screw diameter of 76 mm, is used for the mixing of various liquid flavors into a carbohydrate based matrix.

The resultant encapsulated flavors preserve the optimum flavor of foodstuffs until the very moment of their consumption.

These flavors also have a longer shelf life, are better protected and can be further processed more easily.

The ZSK twin screw extruder Symrise bought has co-rotating twin screws, which ensure fine dispersion and complete encapsulation of the flavors in the highly viscous matrix material.

Unlike spray drying with diluted, sprayable mixtures - the temperature control of the extrusion process is independent from the necessary drying temperature, which means that the choice of the matrix material is subject to only a few limitations.

Symrise uses the ZSK extruder for the production of flavor granules of a grain size as small as 0.6 mm, which can be readily wetted with water during further processing steps.