Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography for Steviol Glycoside Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for purifying steviol glycosides, such as Rebaudioside D and Rebaudioside M, from stevia leaves are inefficient and costly due to the need for organic solvents, which can be toxic and result in low yields, and struggle with achieving high purity without multiple solvent changes and complex processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A continuous simulated moving bed chromatography process using water as the mobile phase desorbent, employing a sequence of adsorbent/desorbent combinations and configurations with cationic, anionic, and hydrophobic interaction stationary phases to enrich and purify steviol glycosides, eliminating the need for organic solvents and achieving high purity (>95% on an anhydrous basis).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional purification methods using organic solvents are employed, then steviol glycosides can be extracted from stevia leaves, but the process becomes toxic, costly, and results in low yields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes organic solvents from the purification process entirely, replacing them with water as the mobile phase in simulated moving bed chromatography. This extraction of the harmful element (organic solvents) eliminates toxicity while maintaining the core function of separating steviol glycosides from impurities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the mobile phase from organic solvents to water, fundamentally altering the purification approach. This parameter change eliminates toxic exposure while achieving effective separation through water-based chromatography with specially designed stationary phases.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple solvent changes and complex processing steps are used to achieve high purity, then steviol glycosides can be purified to >95% purity, but the process becomes inefficient and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous simulated moving bed chromatography, where the purification process operates continuously rather than through discrete batch steps. This continuity maintains high purity separation while eliminating the inefficiencies of multiple solvent changes and intermediate processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic simulated moving bed system where the stationary phase and mobile phase move in opposite directions continuously. This dynamic approach allows for sustained high-purity separation without the need for multiple static processing steps, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional batch purification methods are used, then steviol glycosides can be separated from impurities, but the process requires multiple solvent changes and complex steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the chromatography system into multiple beds arranged in series, with each bed performing a specific separation function. This segmentation allows continuous operation with simplified control compared to batch methods, achieving high separation purity without complex multiple solvent changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static batch purification process into a dynamic continuous system where mobile and stationary phases move continuously in opposite directions. This dynamic approach simplifies the overall process complexity by eliminating the need for multiple discrete solvent changes and intermediate steps while maintaining high separation precision.
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 process effectively purifies steviol glycosides by removing impurities and achieving high concentrations of Rebaudioside D and Rebaudioside M without using organic solvents, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the purification process while meeting commercial food quality standards.
Implementation Method 1
continuous simulated moving bed process using water exclusively as the mobile phase desorbent
Implementation Method 2
employing a sequence of adsorbent/desorbent combinations and configurations with cationic, anionic, and hydrophobic interaction stationary phases
Implementation Method 3
hydrophobic interaction stationary phases
Implementation Method 4
cationic, anionic, and hydrophobic interaction stationary phases
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a continuous process for the purification of steviol glycosides such as Rebaudioside D and/or Rebaudioside M extracted from the dried stevia leaves or extracted from a fermentation broth using continuous simulated moving bed processes and nanofiltration without the addition of organic solvents to obtain a purified steviol product comprising sweet steviol glycosides. The sweet steviol glycosides can be used as substitutes for caloric sweeteners in beverages and in other food items.