Want to turn kratom leaf extract into a shelf-stable, potent powder for nutraceuticals or functional food products? A new 2025 study published in Sustainable Food Technology outlines exactly how to do it — sustainably and effectively. Here’s the breakdown.
🧭 Step 1: Extract Bioactives from Kratom Leaves
- Dry fresh kratom leaves at 60°C until moisture is <5%.
- Grind and pass through a 50-mesh sieve.
- Extract with ultrasonic-assisted extraction using 90% ethanol, 1:40 w/v ratio, 30 minutes.
- Evaporate using a rotary evaporator to get a thick extract (15–20% solids).
🌱 Step 2: Choose the Right Wall Material
This determines the stability, solubility, and bioactive retention of the final powder.
- Best for Antioxidant Protection:Gum Arabic (20%)
- Preserves phenolics, flavonoids, and mitragynine
- Ideal for antioxidant and bioactive-rich powders
- Best for Solubility & Yield:Resistant Maltodextrin (40%)
- Higher encapsulation yield and water solubility
- Lower moisture content
- Optional: Use a 1:1 blend for balanced performance.
🔥 Step 3: Spray Drying Parameters
- Inlet Temperature: 160°C
(Provided best antioxidant retention and efficient drying) - Outlet Temp: 85–95°C
- Feed Solids: 20–40%
- Atomization: 0.7 mm nozzle at 1 bar
💡 Tip: Keep KLE to coating material ratio at 1:2 (w/w) for optimal encapsulation.
📦 Step 4: Packaging for Shelf Life
- Use laminated aluminum foil bags
- Vacuum seal to protect from moisture and oxidation
- Store at room temp (~30°C)
📆 Shelf life: ~81–99 days under ambient conditions (based on degradation modeling)
📊 Final Product Benefits
- Encapsulation efficiency: Up to 92.7%
- Moisture content: As low as 2.6%
- Water activity: Kept < 0.3 for stability
- Bioactive retention:
- TPC: up to 34.8 mg GAE/mL
- TFC: up to 5.1 mg QE/mL
- DPPH: 305 µmol TE/100 mL
🔁 Real-World Use Cases
Use this microencapsulated kratom powder in:
- Functional drinks or teas
- Capsules or supplement blends
- Edibles or food powders
- Clean-label natural health products
♻️ Sustainability Win
This process uses plant-based, biodegradable coating materials and low thermal load (via optimized spray drying), aligning with green tech goals and reducing food waste.