Method for processing raw sugarcane maximizing the preservation of policosanols during production of a natural sugarcane juice-based product

A method for processing a quantity of raw sugarcane sticks to produce a policosanol-rich sugarcane-based concentrate via a sugarcane juice product processing system, comprising steps of:

• shredding said sugar cane sticks and introducing said shredded sugarcane sticks to a series of mechanical roller mills;
• extracting sugarcane juice from said shredded sugarcane sticks via said series of roller mills, wherein a quantity of a surfactant is introduced into the system at a system location prior to said first roller mill;
• filtering said extracted sugarcane juice through at least one filter;
• stabilizing the pH of said sugarcane juice in a non-acidic solution of calciumhydroxide to a preferred pH level within a range of 7.2 to 7.6;
• floectilating said sugarcane juice using a mixture consisting of water and at least one flocculate product;
• evaporating said sugarcane juice via an evaporation apparatus including a series of evaporators, said series of evaporators incrementally increasing a concentration of said sugarcane juice to create a post-evaporation, policosanol-rich concentrated sugarcane juice product;
• and
• extracting said sugarcane juice concentrate from said evaporation apparatus at a desired degrees Brix value, said sugarcane processing method precluding said juice product from exceeding 90° C. throughout said process to minimize evaporation of policosanols therefrom.