Revisão sobre encapsulação de óleos essenciais utilizando materiais alternativos

Abstract

One of the characteristics of essential oils is their volatility. In this sense, the microencapsulation of essential oils can be something interesting in the most diverse industries for the preservation of active compounds. This process would ensure greater efficiency by increasing the shelf life of products through the controlled release of essential oils. Microencapsulation consists of separating a substance, which can be solid, liquid, extracts, dispersions and even microorganisms, from the external environment by means of a material barrier: the capsule. Microcapsules have the ability to modify and improve the appearance and properties of a substance. In addition to separation, microcapsules are intended to protect the active material from adverse conditions and have even more advantages when used in conjunction with controlled release. The microencapsulation of active materials is used in several branches of industry, such as food, whose use aims to increase the effectiveness of various compounds, by promoting a physical barrier between the central component and the other components of the product. One of the areas of study of this theme is the choice of the material for the composition of the microcapsule. Considering the large production of waste in Brazil, mainly industrial effluents and thinking about green chemistry, which consists of reducing or eliminating the use of polluting substances, it is estimated the possibility of using discarded materials and also biodegradable polymers. In this sense, in the present work, a systematic review of the literature was carried out using the Web of Science database and the aid of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations on the use of essential oils in the industry and the use of them, microencapsulated, from alternative materials. With the present research, several wall materials were found to be used, being pertinent to chitosan, sodium alginate, gelatin, arabic gum, maltodextrin and others, which can be used not only in the food industry, but also in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, enhancing the biological activity of essential oils and contributing to the correct disposal of these materials from the point of view of sustainable development.