Optimization of Screw Pumping System (SPS) for Mass Production of Entrapped Bifidus

Process of screw-pumping system (SPS) was optimized for mass production of encapsulated bifidus. SPS entrapment device was composed of feeding component, with optimized nozzle size and length of 18G (0.91 cm) and 4 mm, respectively, screw pump, and 37-multi-nozzle. Screw component had five wing turns [radius (r)=26 to 15 mm] from top to bottom of axis at 78-degree angle from middle of the screw, and two wings were positioned at screw edge to push materials toward nozzle. For nozzle component, 37 nozzles were attached to 20-mm round plate. Air compressor was attached to SPS to increase productivity of encapsulated bifidus. This system could be operated with highly viscous (more than 300 cp) materials, and productivity was higher than $1128\;{\pm}\;30\;beads/min$. Viability of encapsulated bifidus was $5.45\;{\times}\;10^8\;cfu$/bead, which is superior to that of encapsulated bifidus produced by other methods ($2.51{\times}10^8\;cfu$/bead). Average diameter of produced beads was $2.048\;{\pm}\;0.003\;mm$. Survival rate of SPS-produced encapsulated bifidus was 90% for Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem test and 88% in fermented milk (for 14 days). These results show SPS is effective for use in development of economical system for mass production of viable encapsulated bifidus.