Abstract: Ginkgo biloba Linn.(GB) seed paste was used as testing material of spray drying. L₁₆(4⁵) orthogonal experimental design was used. Parameters of inlet air temperature, air flow rate, outlet air temperature, feed concentration were taken as affecting factors. Properties of GB seed powder, i.e., moisture content (MC), color difference (CD), mean particle size (MPS), protein mass fraction (w_p), were analyzed after spray drying. From analysis of data, it was found that moisture and w_pwere significantly affected by outlet air temperature, and mean particle size was affected by feed concentration. Inlet air temperature also significantly affected protein mass fraction, but significance was less than that by outlet air temperature. Finally, the optimal conditions were as follows:inlet air temperature 190℃, air flowrate 120m³/h, outlet air temperature 110℃, feed mass fraction 10%. Powder properties under this condition were: moisture mass fraction 5.20%, color difference 19.76, mean particle size 22.0μm, w_p9.83%, which reached the range of the best quality, completely.

Key words: spray drying, Ginkgo biloba seed, color difference, mean particle size, protein