Process for producing refined sugar from raw juices

A process for producing sugar from raw sugar cane juice comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting the raw sugar cane juice with a flocculant;
• b) separating any undissolved solids from the juice by:
• i) passing the juice between closely spaced plates having corrugations in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the juice, said corrugations having alternating to and bottom crests;
• ii) settling undissolved solids within the bottom crests between said corrugations;
• and;
• iii) removing remaining sugar juice after passage between said plates;
• c) partially evaporating the juice to a concentration of between about 45.degree. and 50.degree. Brix to form a syrup;
• d) contacting the syrup with a flocculant;
• e) separating any flocs from remaining syrup;
• f) filtering the remaining syrup;
• g) contacting the filtered syrup with an ion exchange resin to decolorize and deash the syrup;
• h) evaporating the syrup to a concentration of at least about 60.degree. Brix;
• and
• i) thereafter crystallizing sugar from the syrup.

A process for removing impurities from raw sugar cane juice comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting the raw sugar cane juice with a flocculant to form flocs of impurities;
• b) pressurizing the juice above ambient pressure to introduce dissolved air into the juice;
• c) rapidly lowering the pressure of the juice to nucleate the dissolved air whereby the impurities are segregated from the juice;
• and
• d) separating undissolved solids from the juice.

A method of removing undissolved impurities from sugar liquor comprising the steps of:

• a) passing the liquor between closely spaced plates having corrugations in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the liquor, said corrugations having alternating top and bottom crests;
• b) settling undissolved solids within the bottom crests between said corrugations;
• and;
• c) removing remaining sugar liquor after passage betwen said plates.

A process for producing sugar from raw sugar cane juice comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting the raw sugar cane juice with a flocculant;
• b) passing the raw sugar cane juice through a pipe containing a plurality of bends to expose the juice sequentially to different turbulent regimes defined by different ranges of Reynolds numbers to form a floc containing undissolved solids
• c) separating undissolved solids from the juice;
• d) partially evaporating the juice to a concentration of no greater than about 50.degree. Brix to form a syrup;
• e) contacting the syrup with a flocculant;
• f) separating any flocs from remaining syrup;
• g) filtering the remaining syrup;
• h) contacting the filtered syrup with an ion exchange resin to decolorize and deash the syrup;
• i) evaporating the syrup to a concentration of at least about 60.degree. Brix;
• and
• j) thereafter crystallizing sugar from the syrup.

A process for removing impurities from raw sugar cane juice comprising the steps of:

• a) contacting the raw sugar cane juice with a flocculant to form flocs of impurities;
• b) exposing the raw sugar cane juice sequentially to different turbulent regimes defined by different ranges of Reynolds numbers to form flocs containing undissolved solids
• c) pressurizing the juice above ambient pressure to introduce dissolved air into the juice;
• d) rapidly lowering the pressure of the juice to nucleate the dissolved air whereby the impurities are segregated from the juice;
• and
• e) separating undissolved solids from the juice.