Dehumidified Air-Assisted Spray-Drying of Cloudy Beetroot Juice at Low Temperature

This paper discusses the physicochemical properties of powders obtained by spray drying of cloudy beetroot juice, using dehumidified air in variants with or without carriers. The inlet air temperature was 130 °C or 90 °C, and the addition of the carriers was at a ratio of juice to carrier solids of 3:2. In the obtained powders, the following physicochemical properties were determined: water content and water activity, apparent density, loose and tapped density, porosity, flowability, particle size and morphology, and the content and retention of betalains. It was possible to dry cloudy beetroot juice without the use of carriers at low temperatures (90 or 130 °C). The 100% beetroot powders were characterized by satisfactory physicochemical properties, often better than those with carriers (including lower hygroscopicity and higher color saturation and yield). A lower loss of betalains was found for the powders with the addition of carriers. The best process yields were obtained for the powder without carriers at 130 °C and 90 °C.