Preparation and Characterization of Encapsulated  Cymbopogon citratus  Essential Oils in Alginate/Chitosan Complexes Using Ion-Gel Technique

Huynh Mai Pham; Thuong Nhan Phu Nguyen; Chi Khang Van; Huynh Cang Mai

doi:10.22146/ijc.91251

Preparation and Characterization of Encapsulated Cymbopogon citratus Essential Oils in Alginate/Chitosan Complexes Using Ion-Gel Technique

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.91251

Huynh Mai Pham⁽¹⁾, Thuong Nhan Phu Nguyen⁽²⁾, Chi Khang Van^(3*), Huynh Cang Mai⁽⁴⁾

(1) Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
(2) Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
(3) Institute of Applied Technology and Sustainable Development, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
(4) Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Food Technology, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

In this study, the alginate/chitosan complexes were prepared to encapsulate lemongrass essential oils (Cymbopogon citratus). Essential oils are secondary metabolites that are easily changed under environmental influences (temperature, pH, light). This research opened a new line in protecting essential oils from adverse effects from the surrounding environment. The ion-gel encapsulation technique combined with alginate/chitosan complexes has been applied to encapsulate C. citratus essential oil. The factors were surveyed including homogenization time (10–20 min), concentration of Tween 80 (0–5% w/w), concentration of sodium alginate (1.5–3.5% w/v), concentration of essential oils (20–40% w/w), concentration of CaCl₂ (1.0–2.5% w/v), concentration of chitosan (0.5–2.0%), and pH of chitosan solution (4–6). The properties of products have been determined including moisture content as 80.39%, encapsulation yield as 98.79%, encapsulation efficiency as 88.74% with homogenization time as 15 min, concentration of Tween 80 as 1.5%, concentration of sodium alginate as 2.5% (w/v), concentration of essential oils as 30% (w/w), concentration of CaCl₂ as 2.5% (w/v), concentration of chitosan as 2.0% (w/w), and pH chitosan solution as 5. The main chemical compositions of essential oils before and after encapsulation, such as citral, myrcene, and limonene, have still remained.

Keywords

lemongrass essential oil; alginate/chitosan complexes; encapsulation

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.91251