Stevia Stem Cellulose Extraction Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Stevia industrial processing schemes fail to utilize the entire Stevia plant biomass effectively, leading to significant waste generation and limited economic and environmental benefits, as only the leaves are processed for sweet glycosides, while the stems and residual biomass are underutilized.
Innovation Solution
A process that utilizes both Stevia rebaudiana leaves and stems to produce high-value products like microcrystalline cellulose through size reduction, alkaline pulping, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis, which can be used as a bulking agent in food and beverages, and as a feedstock for de novo biosynthesis of steviol glycosides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If only Stevia leaves are processed for sweet glycosides, then high purity steviol glycosides are produced, but large amounts of stem and residual biomass are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers valuable components from previously discarded stem and residual biomass through alkaline extraction to obtain cellulose and other food ingredients, transforming waste materials into useful products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the Stevia plant to serve multiple functions: leaves provide steviol glycosides while stems and residual biomass provide cellulose and other food ingredients, making the entire plant valuable and eliminating waste
2Loss of substance
If the entire Stevia plant is utilized to produce food ingredients, then waste is reduced and economic benefits increase, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the Stevia plant into distinct segments (leaves for steviol glycosides, stems and residual biomass for cellulose) and applies different processing methods to each segment, making the complex utilization manageable through systematic division
3Quantity of substance
If alkaline pulping is applied to Stevia biomass, then cellulose is extracted effectively, but chemical treatment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes alkaline conditions (changing chemical parameters) to facilitate cellulose extraction from Stevia biomass, transforming the chemical environment to enable effective separation of cellulose from other plant components
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 converts previously underutilized Stevia biomass into valuable food ingredients and chemicals, reducing waste and providing economic and environmental benefits by integrating the whole Stevia plant into the food chain, offering a sustainable solution for large-scale production.
Implementation Method 1
The grinded biomass was subjected to water-soaking and alkaline pulping to obtain a pulp comprising of high content of cellulose
Implementation Method 2
The pulp and/or any derivative thereof can be used as a feedstock for microorganism(s) for de novo biosynthesis of steviol glycosides molecules
Implementation Method 3
A process that utilizes both Stevia rebaudiana leaves and stems to produce high-value products like microcrystalline cellulose through size reduction, alkaline pulping, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis
Data Source
AI summary
Various organic molecules, ingredients and compositions are prepared from Stevia rebaudiana plant. The compositions can be used as bulking agents, and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.