ABSTRACT
Spray drying is a physico-chemical and mechanical process that enables the production of powder by atomization of liquid sample into hot air; in this way the wet droplets are dried. The viability of spray-dried probiotics may vary between species and strains due to their intrinsic resistance to the thermal and mechanical process. Generally, prior to spray drying, the probiotic cultures are incubated in a growth media as a preliminary preparation stage for ensuring adequate numbers. In the spray-drying process, the addition of special agents is a common method used for enhancing the viability of probiotic after heat exposure. The most important part of the efforts to increase probiotic viability during drying is the optimization of the spray-drying conditions. Spray drying is a preferable method for the long-term preservation of probiotic microorganisms and it enables the production of large amounts of powders in one continuous process and more effectively than other drying techniques.
