The invention discloses a mechanical continuous extraction process for
stevioside and a continuous extraction unit. The continuous extraction process comprises the following steps of: 1, saturated
imbibition immersion; 2, carrying out mechanical continuous extraction by adopting the continuous extraction unit; 3, post-recycling treatment; and 4, follow-up treatment. The continuous extraction unitcomprises a shell, a high-
voltage kneading and tearing device and a low-
voltage expanding
imbibition device which are arranged inside the shell; both the high-
voltage kneading and tearing device and the low-voltage expanding
imbibition device comprise horizontal thrusters; the horizontal thrusters are of twin-screw extruders and comprise propelling main shafts and propelling countershafts which are synchronous in the rotation and opposite in the rotation direction; and
helical blades, which are opposite in the
helical direction, are arranged on the propelling main shafts and the propelling countershafts. The process and the continuous extraction unit have the advantages of reasonable design, convenience for implementation, energy saving, environment friendliness, little
water consumption,high production efficiency, high extraction efficiency and capability of effectively solving the practical problems, such as larger
water consumption, great waste water handling capacity, high
investment cost, low production efficiency, low extraction rate and the like when the traditional pot-type
steeping tank is used for extraction.