Method of extracting sugar from sugar juice

Apparatus for extracting a carbohydrate from a carbohydrate juice, said apparatus comprising:

• a) an adsorbent having unsaturated hydrocarbon groups exposed on its surface wherein said groups are capable of adsorbing a carbohydrate to the surface of the adsorbent by CH/π interaction, and optionally in addition by hydrogen bonding, with the proviso that said adsorbent is not an ion exchanger;
• b) means for contacting said raw carbohydrate juice with said adsorbent under conditions by which said carbohydrate is adsorbed to said adsorbent by CH/π interaction, and optionally in addition by hydrogen bonding, and
• c) means for desorbing said carbohydrate from said adsorbent by increasing the temperature of the carbohydrate-adsorbent complex.

A method of extracting a carbohydrate from a carbohydrate juice, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing an adsorbent having unsaturated hydrocarbon groups exposed on its (internal) surface wherein said groups are capable of adsorbing a carbohydrate to the surface of the adsorbent by CH/π interaction, and optionally in addition by hydrogen bonding, with the proviso that said adsorbent is not an ion exchanger;
• b) contacting said carbohydrate juice with said adsorbent under conditions by which said carbohydrate is adsorbed to said adsorbent by CH/π interaction, and optionally in addition by hydrogen bonding, wherein said contacting step is performed at 35° C. and
• c) desorbing said carbohydrate from said adsorbent by increasing the temperature of the carbohydrate-adsorbent complex, wherein said desorbing step is performed at 95° C.