The comparative study of methods used to clarify sugar-cane juice for cane syrup production: cold liming and carbonation

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to comparatively study two methods of sugar-cane juice clarification which are cold liming and carbonation. The study is to determine suitable operating conditions for a juice clarification step in cane syrup production for practical applications of sugar cane farmers in Danchang district. Supanburi province. The obtained sugar-cane juice afrer clarification step should be of the lowest possible color (ICUMSA) and turbidity values while still contain suitable amounts of sucrose and reducing sugars. Sugar-cane juice pH was used as a variable parameter juice was reported in terms of color value. Turbidity, weight of the sediment. And reducing sugar conecentration. Carbonation was found to be a better method over cold-liming. Suitable operating conditions were determined at 55ºC pH 11 during lime adding step. Carbon dioxide addition then follows until pH 9 is obtained. The second carbonation step should be carried out at 70 ºC until pH 7 is achieved. The obtained clarified sugar-cane juice is of 12000 ICUMSA at 19.6 brix percent. 3% turbidity, and 13 g/l reducing sugar.