Modelling and Optimization Electro Spraying Process of Pea Protein Extracted Nanocarriers Developed by Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

: In this study, the possibility of using response surface methodology to analyze pea protein extracted (PPE) nanocarrier’s morphology as natural and available polymer by electrospraying. A five-level-four-factor central composite (circumscribed) design (CCD) approach-based response surface methodology (RSM) analysis was applied to statistically specify the effect of important process variables including: PPE concentration (5-15 wt%), applied voltage (7.5-27.5 kV), flow rate (0.5-10.5 mL/h), and nozzle-collector distance (5-25 cm) on the key response process output variables such as average diameter, quality, and uniformity of the nanoparticles. By using this rotatable design, a total of 26 electrospraying experimental data was fitted. The significance of the factors and their interactions were verified by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with 95% of confidence level (p < 0.05). According to SEM analysis, nanocarriers had uniform morphology with smooth, bead-free neat structures, the distribution of which was homogenous. The target nanocarriers average diameter (520 nm) was obtained under conditions of: PPE concentration 10 wt%, tip to collector distance 10 cm, flow rate 0.5 mL/h and 27.5 kV applied voltage (kV). In the present work, it was stated that PPE could be capsulated-form by electrospraying effectively, this process can have application in food industry, particularly in fields containing aqueous food matrix.