Abstract: A process for the removal of non-sugar impurities from beet diffusion juice having essentially no beet tissue particles therein and comprising water, sugar, and dissolved and colloidal non-sugar impurities. The diffusion juice is subjected to a progressive preliming procedure to thereby produce a limed first juice fraction containing non-sugar flocs and a limed, floc-free second juice fraction. The fractions are separated and the floc-free fraction is subjected to cold and hot main liming. Subsequently, and without substantial mechanical or chemical degradation, at least a portion of the first juice fraction containing at least a portion of the non-sugar flocs is united with the main-limed second juice fraction in a first carbonation procedure wherein carbon dioxide reacts with the lime present to produce calcium carbonate precipitate which, in addition to being an adsorption filter aid, forms protective scales around the floc particles.