Process for preparing granules comprising an active substance

1. A process for preparing granules, the process comprising the steps of:

a) preparing an oil-in-water emulsion comprising

i. a free, non-emulsified active substance selected from the group consisting of a flavour and a fragrance;

ii. a water soluble biopolymer having a molecular weight below 100 KDa and devoid of emulsifying properties, and is present in an amount of from 10 to 70% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion;

iii. solid particles that are insoluble in water and hydrophilic; and

iv. water;

wherein the emulsion is free of emulsifiers; and

b) spray-drying the emulsion obtained in step a) so as to obtain granules;

wherein no emulsifier is added at any step of the process.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the active substance comprises at least 90% by weight, relative to the total weight of the active substance, of compounds having a log P of at least 1.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the flavour is used in an amount of from 5 to 67% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the water soluble biopolymer is a polysaccharide, oligosaccharide or disaccharide and is used in an amount of from 30 to 55% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solid particles have an average diameter of at most 3 μm.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solid particles are selected from the group consisting of

silicon oxides;

metal oxides, hydroxides, salts of inorganic or organic acids and their mixtures;

silver nanoparticles;

magnesium and aluminium silicates;

latexes;

dietary fibers;

yeast cells;

humic acid;

enteric polymers; and

crystals of fats or fatty acids.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solid particles are silica particles.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solid particles are used in an amount of from 0.1 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the emulsion.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of solid particles to active substance is ranging between 1:1 and 1:30.

10. A process according to claim 1 wherein at least 5% by weight of the active agent having a vapour pressure of at least 0.007 Pa at 25° C.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the solid particles are in contact with the active substance.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the solid particles form a three phase contact angle, measured through the aqueous phase at an interface of water and oil at the particle surface, that is between 10 and 90 degrees.

13. A process according to claim 1 wherein the granules have a particle size of at least 10 μm to 750 μm.

14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the granules have a particle size of at least 20 μm to 300 μm.