Obtention of a powder with high fructan content from Agave salmiana

The aim of this study was to obtain powder products with high fructan content by spray-drying of the Agave salmiana juice. A laboratory scale spray dryer operated at inlet air temperatures of 140-160 °C was employed. Maltodextrin (10 DE) and gum arabic were used as carrier agents at levels between 5 and 10 % (w/v). Fructan content of the powder ranged 48-60 %, with presence of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Lowest moisture content and highest powder yield were reached at inlet air temperature of 160 °C using 10 % gum arabic. However, the powders were highly hygroscopic when exposed at environments with aw between 0.5 and 0.9 displaying a high moisture retention capacity, which varied from 10 to 35 % (wet basis).