Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying crude products containing esters of a non-reducing sugar like sucrose, and one or more fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid etc. by subjecting the crude esterification products to an extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide. After carrying out this extraction treatment a residue comprising the fatty acid esters of non-reducing sugars, the unreacted sugar and the salts as well as an extract comprising the fatty acids, fatty acid alkyl esters and also any solvents, if present, are obtained. The unreacted sugar and the salts, present in the obtained residue, can be removed from the residue by, for example, a washing operation resulting in a final product of pure esters of the non-reducing sugar and one or more fatty acids. This last removal step concerning the unreacted sugar and salts may also be carried out before the application of the above indicated extraction treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for demineralizing beet sugar thin juice with a solids content of 10 to 40% by weight by first passing said juice through a solid bed of a weakly acidic cation exchanger in hydrogen form at 10.degree. to 60.degree. C. at a rate of 10 to 180 bed volumes per hour and a contact time of 20 to 360 sec. and then passing the juice through a solid bed of a weakly basic anion exchanger in hydroxyl form in the same temperature range, at the same rate and for the same contact time.