Spray-dried gum Arabic microcapsules of lemon essential oil: A release kinetics study for odor masking in hydrogen peroxide disinfectants

The pungent odor of hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectants restrains their applications in public hygiene, despite their superior safety and lower cost compared to alcohol-based products. To address this limitation, we apply gum arabic-based microencapsulation of lemon essential oil—valued for its pleasant aroma—via spray drying as an odor-masking agent in hydrogen peroxide disinfectants. This study presents the first investigation of the release kinetics of such microcapsules within hydrogen peroxide systems, enabling improved aroma delivery and enhanced product acceptability. The resulting microcapsules (mean diameter ∼114 µm) were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, optical microscopy, SEM, and particle size distribution analysis, confirming successful encapsulation and spherical morphology. Encapsulation efficiency reached 78.02 %, with a product yield of 76.67 %. Controlled release of the essential oil in a hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant medium over 96 h was monitored using UV–Vis spectrophotometry, revealing a sustained release profile without initial burst. Release kinetics were fitted to four models: Fickian diffusion from a sphere, First-order, Korsmeyer–Peppas, and Weibull. The Weibull model provided the best statistical fit, while the Fickian sphere model best described the underlying diffusion mechanism. These results validate gum arabic-based microencapsulation as an effective strategy for odor masking and controlled essential oil delivery in aqueous disinfectant formulations. • First study on lemon oil release from microcapsules in H₂O₂ disinfectant • Lemon oil microencapsulated with gum arabic via spray drying to improve H₂O₂ disinfectant odor • Microcapsules showed high encapsulation efficiency (∼78 %) and uniform size (∼114 µm) • Release kinetics were modeled using four Models; Weibull and Fickian sphere gave best fit • The system demonstrated a sustained and controlled release profile over 96 h.