Integrated Process for β-glucan Concentrate from Ganoderma lucidum by Extraction and Micronization

Hydrothermal treatment is an environmentally friendly technique with a wide range of applications such as extraction, hydrolysis, and wet oxidation of organic compounds. In this work, water under hydrothermal conditions was used to extract b-glucan from Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) at 433 K and 4.0 MPa using a semi-batch system. The extracts were then directly atomized and contacted with a hot inert gas to produce microsphere particles. When nitrogen was used as the inert gas, the moisture evaporated faster than when normal air was used at the same inlet gas temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that corrugated particles were obtained, with diameters varying from 3 to 20 microns. The b-glucan content in the particle products was 40 to 45% in weight, approximately.