Direct production of white sugar from sugarcane juice or sugar beet juice
AssigneeBoard of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
InventorsPeter W. Rein, Luis R. S. M. Bento, Bruce M. Ellis
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Abstract
An economical process is disclosed for the direct production of white sugar from clarified juice. Juice from a cane sugar mill, or sugar beet juice, is first contacted with hydrogen peroxide, before passing through granular activated carbon. The juice is then passed through cationic and anionic resins to remove inorganic compounds, colorants, and other impurities. Then the juice may be concentrated and sugar crystallized. White sugar is produced directly, without the need for an intermediate raw sugar crystallization.
Claims24
A process for purifying clarified sugar cane juice or clarified sugar beet juice, wherein the juice contains color compounds, said process comprising the sequential steps of:
- (a) first, mixing the juice with an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent oxidizes some of the color compounds in the juice;
- (b) second, passing the juice through granular activated carbon, wherein the carbon adsorbs some of the color compounds in the juice;
- and
- (c) third, passing the juice through cationic and anionic ion exchange resins, wherein the resins remove at least some inorganic ions from the juice, and wherein the resins adsorb some of the color compounds in the juice;
- wherein, following said first, second, and third steps, the concentration of color compounds in the juice is reduced by at least 50%;
- and wherein, following said first, second, and third steps, the concentration of divalent cations in the juice is reduced by at least 75%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.