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Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a heat-stable and slow-release lysozyme-based product using radiant energy under vacuum (REV) technology by formulating lysozyme in a chitosan matrix so that the product could be used as a feed additive for more effective control of clostridial necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens. Lysozyme/chitosan was made into pastes with water at 25-45% solids content. These were dried with REV technology (300 watts microwave power under 4 KPa absolute pressure). Lysozyme retained its full activity during this process. A REV-treated sample produced with a paste containing 25% solids had a Tm of 124.6°C, which was substantially higher than that of spray-dried lysozyme (101.7°C). Thermal destruction curves constructed over a range of 100-130°C were used to determine D- and z-values of lysozyme and the REV-treated samples. REV products were consistently more heat-resistant than native lysozyme powder. A small scale feed pelleting study showed significantly better recovery of lysozyme in the chitosan protected REV product(P