Process for the purification of sugar syrups

A process for purifying sugar syrup, which comprises:

• (a) combining an impure sugar syrup of about 50.degree. to about 65.degree. Brix with a flocculating agent selected from lime in combination with a phosphate ion source, or lime in combination with aluminum sulfate, to form a primary floc in the syrup, wherein the amount of agent added forms an amount of primary floc sufficient to remove a substantial quantity of impurities from the syrup and adjusts the pH of the syrup to about 6 to 8, and wherein the syrup is maintained at a temperature of from a temperature sufficient for floc formation up to about 90.degree. C.;
• (b) removing an aliquot from the syrup before or after the syrup is combined with the flocculating agent in step (a), the aliquot being from about 5% to about 15% by volume of the syrup;
• (c) diluting the aliquot with an amount of water sufficient to adjust the Brix of the aliquot to about 35.degree. to 45.degree. and form a diluted aliquot;
• (d) aerating the diluted aliquot to form a super-aerated aliquot, wherein the diluted aliquot is maintained at a temperature of from about 25.degree. C. up to about 90.degree. C.;
• (e) dispersing in the syrup by substantially non-turbulent agitation for up to about 180 seconds, an amount of 0.05% to 0.3% aqueous polyacrylamide electrolyte solution;
• (f) adding the super-aerated aliquot to the syrup and mixing to form an aerated syrup with a secondary flotation floc;
• (g) allowing the secondary floc to float and form a floating scum and a substantially purified sugar syrup;
• and
• (h) separating the scum and the purified syrup.