Steviol glycoside composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition comprising one or more steviol glycosides which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 1000 ppm. The invention also relates to a method for preparing a steviol glycoside composition, which method comprises: providing a steviol glycoside composition; combining the steviol glycoside composition with water to form a steviol glycoside solution; and crystallizing a steviol glycoside composition from the solution. The invention also relates to a method for reducing the nitrogen content of a steviol glycoside composition, which method comprises: providing a steviol glycoside composition which comprises nitrogen; combining the steviol glycoside composition with water to form a steviol glycoside solution; and crystallizing a steviol glycoside composition from the solution, thereby to reduce the amount of nitrogen in the steviol glycoside composition.

1 . A composition comprising one or more steviol glycosides produced by fermentation of a recombinant microorganism capable of producing the one or more steviol glycosides, which composition comprises:
 nitrogen in an amount of about 1 to about 800 ppm, and   at least 80%, on dry weight basis of the composition, of one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside M, stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside or steviolbioside.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 500 ppm. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 1  which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 100 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1  which further comprises one or more of any one of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside M, stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside or steviolbioside. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1  which comprises at least 80% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside A, rebaudioside D or rebaudioside M. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1  which comprises at least 95% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside A, rebaudioside D or rebaudioside M. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising one or more fermentatively produced steviol glycosides, which composition comprises:
 nitrogen in an amount of about 1 to about 800 ppm, and   at least 80%, on dry weight basis of the composition, of one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside D or rebaudioside M.   
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7  which further comprises one or more of any one of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside M, stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside or steviolbioside. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 7  which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 500 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 7  which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 100 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 7  which comprises at least 90% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside D or rebaudioside M. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 7  which comprises at least 95% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside D or rebaudioside M. 
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing a steviol glycoside composition comprising one or more steviol glycosides produced by fermentation, which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of about 1 to about 800 ppm, and which composition comprises at least 80% on dry weight basis of the composition of one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside M, stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside or steviolbioside, which method comprises:
 providing a first steviol glycoside composition comprising one or more steviol glycosides produced by fermentation, which composition comprises nitrogen in an amount higher than 800 ppm, and which composition comprises at least 80% on dry weight basis of the composition of one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside M, stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside or steviolbioside;   combining the first steviol glycoside composition with water to form a steviol glycoside solution; and   crystallizing a second steviol glycoside composition from the steviol glycoside solution at a pH 6.0 or a above, wherein the crystallization step is a recrystallization step, wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises less nitrogen than the first steviol glycoside composition.   
     
     
         14 . A method for reducing the nitrogen content of a steviol glycoside composition derived from fermentation, which method comprises:
 providing a first steviol glycoside composition comprising:
 one or more steviol glycosides produced by fermentation, and 
 at least 80%, on dry weight basis of the first steviol glycoside composition, of one steviol glycoside selected from rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside M, stevioside, dulcoside A, rubusoside or steviolbioside; 
   combining the first steviol glycoside composition with water to form a steviol glycoside solution; and   crystallizing a second steviol glycoside composition from the steviol glycoside solution at a pH 6.0 or above, wherein the crystallization step is a recrystallization step, thereby to reduce the amount of nitrogen in the steviol glycoside composition.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the crystallization is carried out at pH 7.0 or above. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first steviol glycoside composition comprises at least 95%, on a dry weight basis of the first steviol glycoside composition, of the one steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the crystallization is carried out at pH 8.0 or above. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claims 13 , wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 500 ppm. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 100 ppm. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises at least 95% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the crystallization is carried out at pH 7.0 or above. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first steviol glycoside composition comprises at least 95% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the crystallization is carried out at pH 8.0 or above. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claims 14 , wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 500 ppm. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises nitrogen in an amount of no more than about 100 ppm. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the second steviol glycoside composition comprises at least 95% on a dry weight basis of at least one steviol glycoside.