Electrostatic Spray Drying of a Milk Protein Matrix—Impact on Maillard Reactions

Electrostatic spray drying (ESD) of a milk protein matrix comprising whey protein isolate (WPI), skim milk powder (SMP), and lactose was compared to conventional spray drying (CSD) and freeze-drying (FD). ESD and CSD were used to produce powders at low (0.12–0.14), medium (0.16–0.17), and high (0.31–0.36) levels of water activity (a_w), while FD powders targeted low a_w (0.12). Maillard reaction indicators were studied after drying and during storage for up to 28 days at 20, 40, or 60 °C by measuring free -NH₂ groups, as an indicator of available lysine, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). After drying, levels of residual free -NH₂ groups were ~15% higher in ESD and FD powders than in their CSD counterparts. CSD powders also had ~14% higher HMF concentrations compared to their ESD and FD counterparts. Storage led to reductions in free -NH₂ groups and increases in HMF content in all powders, the extent of which increased with increasing storage temperature. Reductions in free -NH₂ groups followed first-order reaction kinetics at 20 and 40 °C but second-order reaction kinetics at 60 °C. Lactose crystallization was detected in high-a_w CSD powders after 14 d at 40 °C and in both CSD and ESD powders after 7 d at 60 °C. Overall, we found that ESD is a gentle drying technology which enables production of powders with lower Maillard reaction markers.