Treatment of sugar juice

A process for treating impure cane derived sugar juice, which process comprises subjecting, in a clarification stage, impure cane derived sugar juice to microfiltration/ultrafiltration to decrease the levels of suspended solids, organic non sugar impurities and/or colour therein;

• sequentially passing the resultant clarified sugar juice through at least one ion exchange stage by bringing the clarified sugar juice into contact with a strong acid cation ion exchange resin in the hydrogen form, and thereafter into contact with an anion ion exchange resin in the hydroxide form;
• withdrawing a purified sugar solution from the ion exchange stage;
• subjecting the purified sugar solution from the ion exchange stage to further decolourizing in a decolourizing stage, to obtain a decolourized purified sugar solution;
• concentrating the purified sugar solution, to produce a syrup;
• subjecting the syrup to primary crystallization in at least one primary crystallization stage, to produce refined white sugar and primary mother liquor or molasses;
• subjecting the primary mother liquor to secondary crystallization in at least one secondary crystallization stage, to produce impure crystallized sugar and secondary mother liquor or white strap molasses.

A process for treating impure cane derived sugar juice, which process comprises:

• subjecting, in a clarification stage, impure cane derived sugar juice to microfiltration/ultrafiltration to decrease the levels of suspended solids, organic non sugar impurities and/or colour therein;
• sequentially passing the resultant clarified sugar juice through an ion exchange stage comprising a simulated moving bed ion exchange system wherein the clarified sugar juice is brought into contact with a strong acid cation ion exchange resin in the hydrogen form, and thereafter into contact with an anion ion exchange resin in the hydroxide form;
• cooling the clarified sugar juice to a temperature below 30° C. before it enters the ion exchange stage, or while it passes through the ion exchange stage;
• withdrawing a purified sugar solution from the ion exchange stage;
• concentrating the purified sugar solution, to produce a syrup;
• subjecting the syrup to primary crystallization in at least one primary crystallization stage, to produce refined white sugar and primary mother liquor or molasses;
• subjecting the primary mother liquor to secondary crystallization in at least one secondary crystallization stage, to produce impure crystallized sugar and secondary mother liquor or white strap molasses.