Method of producing purified rebaudioside A compositions using solvent/antisolvent crystallization

摘要

The invention provides methods of purifying rebaudioside A from a mixture comprising glycosides of the plant Stevia rebaudiana. The methods of the invention are useful for preparing highly pure rebaudioside A compositions from crude Stevia starting compositions that are typically considerably lower in rebaudioside A concentration. The highly pure rebaudioside A compositions are useful as non-caloric sweeteners in edible or chewable compositions such as food, beverages, medicine, candy, chewing gum, and the like.

主权项

1. A method of purifying rebaudioside A from a mixture of glycosides, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a glycoside starting composition comprising: about 40-80 wt % rebaudioside A; and one or more of rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, stevioside, and dulcoside; (b) forming a glycoside solution by dissolving the glycoside starting composition in a solvent comprising;
a mixture of a lower alcohol and water, and (c) adding an antisolvent to the glycoside solution of step (b) in an amount that is effective to cause at least a portion of the rebaudioside A to crystallize from the glycoside solution in a single crystallization step having a purity of about 90-99 wt % rebaudioside A with a yield of about 60-95 wt % wherein the added antisolvent is different than the lower alcohol and water.