News > Fluidized Bed Adsorption: Protection of Temperature-Sensitive Actives and Bioinputs
Actives such as probiotics, enzymes, natural flavors, plant extracts, as well as fungi and bacteria used as bioinputs for agricultural and environmental applications, share a common challenge: high sensitivity to heat, moisture, and oxidation. These compounds, often of high added value, can lose their functionality when processed under inadequate conditions.
Fluidized bed adsorption is a technique especially suited for handling and stabilizing these actives, incorporating them into a solid carrier in a controlled way while preserving their viability and original properties.
How does the fluidized bed adsorption process work?
The method starts with the fluidization of a solid carrier—such as starch, maltodextrin, silica, phosphates, carbonates, or others—using an air stream. During operation, the active (in solution, suspension, or dispersion form) is sprayed onto the fluidized particles. The liquid deposits on the surface and the moisture is removed through gentle drying, usually at lower temperatures than those used in techniques such as spray drying. This process creates a final dry product where the active is uniformly distributed on the carrier, protected against physical, chemical, and microbiological degradation.
Key advantages
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Thermal protection: ideal for preserving live microorganisms (probiotics, fungi, bacteria) and thermosensitive bioactive molecules (enzymes, flavors, pigments).
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Increased stability: protection against oxidation, humidity, and light, extending shelf life.
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Improved handling and application: more stable final product, with uniform particle size and low hygroscopicity.
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Formulation flexibility: possibility of using different carriers and conditions to meet specific requirements.
Industry applications
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Food & beverages: encapsulation of probiotics and flavors for instant formulations.
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Pharmaceutical & nutraceutical: protection of digestive enzymes, plant actives, and probiotics for capsules and sachets.
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Agroindustry: incorporation of entomopathogenic fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria into carriers for controlled release in the field.
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Biotechnology: stabilization of microorganisms for fermentation processes.
Challenges and considerations in the process
The success of fluidized bed adsorption depends on:
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Proper carrier selection: compatible with both the active and the final application.
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Strict temperature and moisture control: to avoid degradation or cell death.
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Uniform application: ensures homogeneous distribution of the active and consistent performance.
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Chemical compatibility: carrier and active must interact stably without compromising functionality.
Why choose fluidized bed adsorption?
Beyond providing thermal protection, this technology allows for high process control, scalability, and reproducibility, making it a versatile solution for R&D and industrial production. Companies investing in this technique ensure more stable products, with preserved performance and competitive differentiation, whether in the food, pharmaceutical, or agricultural bioinputs markets.
At Labmaq, we develop customized fluidized beds to meet both laboratory-scale research and industrial demands, with precise parameter control. Our goal is to be your partner in developing and producing stable ingredients and bioinputs with high quality and market performance.