Rebaudioside D Solubility via Spray Drying

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Rebaudioside D (Reb D) has low solubility in water at room temperature, limiting its use in beverages and requiring heating to achieve complete dissolution, which impedes the development of sweetener compositions with higher Reb D content due to solubility issues in manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving preparing a clear Reb D solution by heating it with water, mixing with a solubility enhancer such as a water-soluble organic acid or hydroxyl-containing sweetener, and adding a stabilizer before spray drying to form a powder, enhancing solubility up to 8000 ppm at 23°C.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If Reb D is used in beverages, then better sugar character and more desirable taste are achieved, but low solubility in water at room temperature prevents sufficient concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility concentrationVSAvoiddissolution difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state and molecular structure of Reb D through spray drying processes. The Reb D is processed at controlled temperatures and humidities to create a powdered form with enhanced solubility characteristics, transforming it from a poorly soluble crystalline substance to a highly soluble powder that can achieve concentrations up to 8000 ppm at room temperature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite material structures through spray drying where Reb D forms complex structures with water and other components during the drying process. This results in a composite powder material with improved solubility properties compared to pure Reb D, allowing for better dissolution in beverage applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If Reb D is heated to near boiling water temperature for 2 hours to achieve complete dissolution, then solubility is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility concentrationVSAvoiddissolution time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing Reb D through spray drying to create a powder form with enhanced solubility before use. This preliminary treatment modifies the Reb D structure in advance, eliminating the need for prolonged heating and dissolution steps during actual beverage preparation or manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spray drying process involves controlled parameter changes including temperature, humidity, and airflow during drying. These parameter modifications create a Reb D product with fundamentally different dissolution characteristics, reducing the time and energy required for complete dissolution from 2 hours to minutes or seconds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If Reb D concentration is increased in beverage concentrates, then higher sweetness is achieved, but low solubility prevents sufficient concentration in syrup form

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesweetener concentrationVSAvoidsolution stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spray drying process applies parameter changes to create a Reb D powder with enhanced solubility, enabling much higher concentrations in beverage concentrates. The processed powder can achieve concentrations up to 8000 ppm at room temperature, allowing for higher sweetness levels in syrups and concentrates without precipitation or instability issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The method significantly increases Reb D solubility, allowing it to be used in beverage concentrates and syrups, maintaining sweetness characteristics and stability, and enabling higher concentrations in beverages without settling or precipitation.

Implementation Method 1

preparing a clear Reb D solution by adding Reb D powder to water and heating to completely dissolve the Reb D powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

spray drying the stabilized Reb D solution to form a powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray drying: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2830442B1Method for enhancing rebaudioside d solubility in water
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 PEPSICO INC

AI summary

A clear Reb D solution is prepared by adding Reb D powder to water and heating to completely dissolve the Reb D powder, or by extracting Reb D from stevia plant using hot/boiling water or water/ethanol, wherein the temperature of the clear Reb D solution is above 70 °C. Ideally, the clear Reb D solution is mixed with with a solubilizing enhancer, wherein the temperature of the enhanced Reb D solution is maintained above 70 °C, and wherein the solubilizing enhancer is a hydroxyl-containing sweetener. A stabilizer is then added to the Reb D solution to produce a stabilized Reb D solution; wherein the stabilizer comprises a thickener or anti-agglomeration agent. The stabilized Reb D solution is spray dried to form a powder. The solubility of Rebaudioside D is enhanced in water-based fluids, in particular in beverage concentrates and syrups 1.