Methods of preparing steviol glycosides, including Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside M, Rebaudioside N and Rebaudioside O are provided herein. Sweetener and sweetened consumables containing Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside M, Rebaudioside N and Rebaudioside O are also provided herein.

A system and a method for the production and provision of CO.sub.2 gas are disclosed. A sealable chamber is equipped with heating means and when a CO.sub.2 carrier material, such as sodium bicarbonate is placed in it and heated to its decomposition temperature CO.sub.2 gas is released. The released gas is conveyed into liquid within a container and when the pressure of the gas in the container raises more and more CO.sub.2 gas is dissolved. The heating may be done by conduction mechanism, a microwave heating mechanism or by induction mechanism. The sodium bicarbonate or any other material including carbon dioxide may be disposed in powder, solid, suspension, emulsion, solution or wet powder form. It may be disposed in thin envelope case.

A system and a method for the production and provision of CO.sub.2 gas are disclosed. A sealable chamber is equipped with heating means and when a CO.sub.2 carrier material, such as sodium bicarbonate is placed in it and heated to its decomposition temperature CO.sub.2 gas is released. The released gas is conveyed into liquid within a container and when the pressure of the gas in the container raises more and more CO.sub.2 gas is dissolved. The heating may be done by conduction mechanism, a microwave heating mechanism or by induction mechanism. The sodium bicarbonate or any other material including carbon dioxide may be disposed in powder, solid, suspension, emulsion, solution or wet powder form. It may be disposed in thin envelope case.

A method for the efficient solubilization of carbon dioxide in water through the use of high energy impacts is disclosed. The method can optionally includes mixing the carbon dioxide and water to form an annular dispersed flow, accelerating the carbon dioxide and water prior to the collision; providing a retention network to collect the carbonated water flow. Also disclosed are systems and apparatuses for practicing the disclosed methods.

A method for the efficient solubilization of carbon dioxide in water through the use of high energy impacts is disclosed. The method can optionally includes mixing the carbon dioxide and water to form an annular dispersed flow, accelerating the carbon dioxide and water prior to the collision; providing a retention network to collect the carbonated water flow. Also disclosed are systems and apparatuses for practicing the disclosed methods.

An apparatus for thawing or cooling food products includes a tank adapted to be at least partly filled with a liquid. A spiral shaped blade extends between a first end and a second end of the tank, where the spiral shaped blade is mounted to a rotation axis which operates rotational movement of the spiral shaped bladed and thus the conveying of the food products from the first end towards the second end. A temperature controlling system is provided and adapted to control the temperature of the liquid by arranging multiple heat supplying units along the tank for injecting heating or cooling agents into the liquid so as to provide a substantial temperature distribution into the thawing liquid during the thawing or cooling of the food products.

An apparatus for thawing or cooling food products includes a tank adapted to be at least partly filled with a liquid. A spiral shaped blade extends between a first end and a second end of the tank, where the spiral shaped blade is mounted to a rotation axis which operates rotational movement of the spiral shaped bladed and thus the conveying of the food products from the first end towards the second end. A temperature controlling system is provided and adapted to control the temperature of the liquid by arranging multiple heat supplying units along the tank for injecting heating or cooling agents into the liquid so as to provide a substantial temperature distribution into the thawing liquid during the thawing or cooling of the food products.

A system and a method for the production and provision of CO.sub.2 gas are disclosed. A sealable chamber is equipped with heating means and when a CO.sub.2 carrier material, such as sodium bicarbonate is placed in it and heated to its decomposition temperature CO.sub.2 gas is released. The released gas is conveyed into liquid within a container and when the pressure of the gas in the container raises more and more CO.sub.2 gas is dissolved. The heating may be done by conduction mechanism, a microwave heating mechanism or by induction mechanism. The sodium bicarbonate or any other material including carbon dioxide may be disposed in powder, solid, suspension, emulsion, solution or wet powder form. It may be disposed in thin envelope case.

A system and a method for the production and provision of CO.sub.2 gas are disclosed. A sealable chamber is equipped with heating means and when a CO.sub.2 carrier material, such as sodium bicarbonate is placed in it and heated to its decomposition temperature CO.sub.2 gas is released. The released gas is conveyed into liquid within a container and when the pressure of the gas in the container raises more and more CO.sub.2 gas is dissolved. The heating may be done by conduction mechanism, a microwave heating mechanism or by induction mechanism. The sodium bicarbonate or any other material including carbon dioxide may be disposed in powder, solid, suspension, emulsion, solution or wet powder form. It may be disposed in thin envelope case.

Containers are provided for use with a beverage dispensing device. The container can include a housing defining a hollow interior and having an opening leading to the hollow interior, a cover coupled disposed over the opening, an inlet leading to the hollow interior, and an outlet spaced apart from the interior. The inlet and outlet can each have valves movable between open and closed positions for allowing fluid flow into and out of the hollow interior.