Separation and purification of rebaudioside A from extract of Stevia Rebaudiana leaves by macroporous adsorption resins

The separation and purification of rebaudioside A from Stevia rebaudiana crude extracts (Steviosides) by macroporous resin were optimized by Taguchi orthogonal array (OA) experimental design methodology. This approach was applied to evaluate the influence of five factors (adsorption temperature, desorption time, elution solution ratio, adsorption volume and type of resin) on the rebaudioside A yield. The percentage contribution of each factor was also determined. The results showed that elution solution ratio and adsorption volume made the greatest (59.6%) and the lowest (1.3%) contribution, respectively. The results showed that the Taguchi method is able to model the purification of rebaudioside A process well (R² > 0.998) and can therefore be applied in future studies conducted in various fields. Adsorption temperature 35°C, desorption time 60min, elution solution ratio 3, adsorption volume 200ml and HPD-400 as resin were the best conditions determined by the Taguchi method.