Stepwise membrane filtration for Rebaudioside A and Stevioside enrichment in aqueous and ethanolic stevia extracts

Year 2024, Volume: 37 Issue: 3, 121 - 127, 06.12.2024

Yesim Kapi , Hatice Reyhan Oziyci , Mustafa Karhan

https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1535179

Abstract

Enriching steviol glycosides derived from the stevia plant is an important step in producing stevia natural sweeteners. This study investigated the enrichment of Rebaudioside A and Stevioside compounds of aqueous and ethanol stevia extracts using cascade membrane filtration techniques. Accordingly, extracts from stevia leaves were processed using membrane filtration techniques such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration. In particular, the 30 kDa ultrafiltration membrane was highly effective in enriching steviol glycosides. The highest concentrations of Rebaudioside A (21.47 g L-1) and Stevioside (19.97 g L-1) compounds were reached at the 30 kDa ultrafiltration retentate fraction in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts. However, it was found that the permeate fluxes and the extracts obtained after the nanofiltration process had very low concentrations of these compounds. The findings highlight the importance of membrane selection in effectively enriching steviol glycosides.

Keywords

Stevia extract, Solvent extraction, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration, Enrichment

Ethical Statement

Not applicable.

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the Akdeniz University, Office of Scientific Research Projects (Project No: FYL-2021-5553).

Project Number

FYL-2021-5553

Thanks

This study was supported by the Akdeniz University, Office of Scientific Research Projects (Project No: FYL-2021-5553).

References

• Arakawa FS, Mahl CR, de Oliveira SP, da Igreja G, Simões MR, da Silva CF (2012) Clarification of aqueous Stevia extract using alginate beads—evaluation by factorial design methodology. Adsorption Science & Technology 30(2): 147-158. doi: 10.1260/0263-6174.30.2.147.
• Cemeroğlu B (2007) Gıda analizleri. Gıda Teknolojisi Derneği Yayınları, Ankara.
• Chhaya C, Sharma CS, Mondal SM, Majumdar G, De S (2012) Clarification of stevia extract by ultrafiltration. Food and Bioproducts Processing. doi: 10.1016/j.fbp.2011.10.002.
• Das A, Paul D, Golder AK, Das C (2015) Separation of rebaudioside-A from stevia extract. Separation and Purification Technology 144: 8-15. doi: 10.1016/j.seppur.2015.02.004.
• Díaz-Montes E, Gutiérrez-Macías P, Orozco-Álvarez C, Castro-Muñoz R (2020) Fractionation of Stevia rebaudiana aqueous extracts via two-step ultrafiltration process: towards rebaudioside A extraction. Food and Bioproducts Processing 123: 111-122. doi: 10.1016/j.fbp.2020.06.010.
• Díaz-Montes E, García-Depraect O, Castro-Muñoz R (2021) Membrane technologies for the extraction and purification of steviol glycosides. In: Galanakis CM (Ed), Steviol glycosides: production, properties, and applications. Academic Press, pp. 159-199.
• Iwuozor KO, Emmanuel SS, Ahmed MO, Idris AM, Emenike EC, Saliu OD, Qudus AH, Adeniyi AG (2024) Technologies for the extraction and post-extraction of Stevia rebaudiana leaves. Chemistry Africa 7(2): 539-563. doi: 10.1007/s42250-023-00787-0.
• Karhan M (2020) Use of fractional membrane filtration applications in the purification of Stevia extracts (TÜBİTAK 1002 Project Final Report 119O016).
• Kootstra A, Elissen H, Huurman S (2016) Extraction of steviol glycosides from fresh Stevia using acidified water; clarification followed by ultrafiltration and nanofiltration. Application Center for Renewable Resources - ACRRES. https://www.acrres.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PPO-632.pdf. Accessed 9 September 2024.
• Liu Y, Chen Y, Wang L, Jiang J (1991) Study of stevioside preparation by membrane separation process. Desalination 83(1-3): 375-382. doi: 10.1016/0011-9164(91)85111-7.
• Mahl CR, de Oliveira SP, da Silva BB, da Igreja G, Simões MR, da Silva CF (2010) Effect of pH on the clarification of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni extract using alginate beads. Adsorption Science and Technology 28(2): 189-194. doi: 10.1260/0263-6174.28.2.189.
• Martínez-Alvarado JC, Torrestiana-Sánchez B, Aguilar-Uscanga MG (2017) Isolation of steviol glycosides by a two-step membrane process operating under sustainable flux. Food and Bioproducts Processing 101: 223-230. doi: 10.1016/j.fbp.2016.11.013.
• Wölwer-Rieck U, Tomberg W, Wawrzun A (2010) Investigations on the stability of stevioside and rebaudioside A in soft drinks. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 58(23): 12216-12220.
• Zhang SQ, Kumar A, Kutowy O (2000) Membrane-based separation scheme for processing sweeteners from Stevia leaves. Food Research International 33(7): 617-620. doi: 10.1016/S0963-9969(00)00098-3.
• Zoua Assoumou U, Öziyci H, Hacıoğlu A, Karhan M (2024) Influence of solvent type and leaf moisture on extraction efficiency of major steviol glycosides in Stevia (var. Levent 93) plant. Acta Alimentaria 53(2): 175-187. doi: 10.1556/066.2023.00245.