Extraction of Sweetener from Stevia leaves Muhammad Imran Ahmad*, Zia Shahid, Najmul Hassan, Mumtaz Khan Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan SP-24-P-12 Aim of the Project Process Flow Diagram Laboratory Extraction of Sweetener To design a process for the production of Stevia based sweetener. Introduction Stevia sweetener is 150 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, stable at high temperature, non fermentable, has no calorific value, and it has less side effects as compared to sugar (Brandle et al. 1998). Feed (Stevia leaves) Drying Liquid extraction Filtration, and crystallization Powdered Sweetener Methodology Stevia Leaves Stevia Powder The major glycosides found in stevia leaves are rebaudioside A (2-10%), steviosides (2-10%), and rebaudioside C (1-2%). Rebaudioside A is the least astringent, least bitter, and least persistent taste. Literature Study Experimentation Material Balances Energy Balances Design Calculations Cost Estimation Instrumentation & Control HAZOP Study Results Literature Review Figure 6 Schematic showing sequence of different steps for project Experimentation Extraction Purification Heating Stevia Leaves (powder) Coagulation Filtration, and Crystallization Raw Materials Figure 2 Effect of different Solvents on Yield Work Schedule Table 1 Properties of steviol glycosides Process will be selected after further literature review (October 2016). After selection we will carry out experimental work (November 2016). Material balances and energy balances will be carried out in December 2016. Design calculations will be carried out in January-February 2017. Cost estimation, and HAZOP study would be competed in March-April 2017. Table 2 Operating parameters S. No Operating Parameter Value 1 Temperature 350-600 C 2 Time (min) 15 min 3 pH 6.8 References Brandle, J.E., Starratt, A.N., Gijzen, M., Stevia rebaudiana: Its agricultural, biological, and chemical properties, Canadian Journal of Plant Science (1998), 527-536. Markosyan, A., Li, S.W., Bu, C., Stevia Extracts, US Patent (2016) US 20160058053A1. Figure 3 Effect of temperature on product yield Figure 8 Particle size distribution Sustainability in Process Industry (SPI’16), Chemical Engineering Department, UET Peshawar, Oct 19-20, 2016