Amorphous Rebaudioside A via Gradient Temperature Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing highly soluble Rebaudioside A, a sweetener from the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant, face challenges such as low solubility in hydrate forms, instability in concentrated solutions, and the need for sophisticated equipment like spray drying, which are not scalable or economically viable for industrial use.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a Stevia sweetener powder solubilized in water under gradient temperature treatment, followed by spray drying, to produce a highly stable and concentrated solution, resulting in a highly soluble amorphous form of Rebaudioside A with greater than 30% solubility in water at room temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If spray drying is used to produce highly soluble Rebaudioside A, then solubility is improved, but equipment complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of Rebaudioside A by inducing amorphization through controlled crystallization and milling processes. This transforms the crystalline form into an amorphous form with significantly enhanced solubility, eliminating the need for complex spray drying equipment while achieving the desired solubility improvement.
2Productivity
If concentrated solutions are prepared for spray drying, then productivity is improved, but solution stability deteriorates due to rapid crystallization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing controlled crystallization and amorphization treatments on the Rebaudioside A before solution preparation. This pre-treatment modifies the molecular structure to prevent rapid crystallization in concentrated solutions, thereby maintaining solution stability while enabling high productivity through improved dissolution rates.
3Ease of manufacture
If hydrate form of Rebaudioside A is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but solubility deteriorates to very low levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the hydrate form of Rebaudioside A into an amorphous form through controlled heating, cooling, and milling processes. This structural transformation dramatically increases solubility while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the process uses conventional equipment and straightforward operational steps.
4Quantity of substance
If extended high temperature treatment is applied to Rebaudioside A, then solubility is improved, but decomposition occurs due to hydrolytic breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using intermittent heating and cooling cycles rather than extended high temperature treatment. The material is heated to specific temperatures for controlled periods, then cooled and milled, creating a periodic process that enhances solubility through amorphization while preventing hydrolytic decomposition that would occur with prolonged thermal exposure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This process achieves a high degree of solubility and stability for Rebaudioside A, avoiding the limitations of low throughput and equipment-intensive methods, making it commercially viable for industrial-scale production without requiring complex equipment setups.
Implementation Method 1
solubilizing it in the water under gradient temperature treatment conditions, to produce a highly stable concentrated solution
Implementation Method 2
spray drying the highly stable concentrated solution to obtain a highly soluble Stevia sweetener powder
Data Source
AI summary
A method for making a highly soluble Stevia sweetener is described. The resulting sweetener readily provides solutions with up to or greater than 30% concentration which are stable for more than 24 hours.