Ultrasound and deep eutectic solvents: An efficient combination to tune the mechanism of steviol glycosides extraction

What happens when you combine sound waves with nature's eco-friendly solvents? You unlock a method that extracts nature's sweetest compounds nearly three times better than traditional techniques.

Extracting natural sweetness without harming the planet is a modern scientific quest. Researchers have turned their attention away from polluting organic solvents, looking instead toward sustainable deep eutectic solvents. By coupling these green liquids with ultrasound-assisted extraction, scientists developed a remarkably efficient way to harvest stevioside and rebaudioside A from Stevia rebaudiana leaves.

To find the ideal mixture, the team used a clever predictive approach known as COSMO-RS for solvent screening. They then fine-tuned the extraction process by examining three key variables: the percentage of water, temperature, and sonication amplitude using response surface methodology.

The results speak for themselves. Comparing ultrasound-assisted extraction directly with conventional methods demonstrated that the yield of valuable steviol glycosides is almost three times higher. Along the way, the study also sheds light on the underlying physicochemical factors driving this ultrasonic extraction mechanism.

Key Points

• Ultrasound-assisted extraction yields nearly three times more steviol glycosides.
• Deep eutectic solvents offer a green alternative to organic solvents.
• COSMO-RS and response surface methodology optimized the extraction process.