Abstract: A method for controlling microbial growth in a sugar processing system is disclosed. The method comprises adding a peroxy acid into water of an extraction system of the sugar processing system, wherein the extraction system extracts sugar from a sugar-containing plant material. The peroxy acid is added to the extraction system at one or more of the following addition points: water entering a diffuser of the extraction system, a mid-tower region of the extraction system, water entering the diffuser from a water supply, pressed pulp water from a pulp press of the extraction system, raw juice exiting a cossette mixer of the extraction system, juice recirculated from the diffuser to the cossette mixer, and a cossette slurry entering the cossette mixer. In one embodiment, the peroxy acid is peracetic acid.

Abstract: A method for controlling microbial growth in an ethanol fermentation system is disclosed wherein the method comprises: (a) adding a biocide including a peroxy acid (e.g., peracetic acid) into a fermentable medium, wherein the biocide is essentially free of chelating agents; and (b) fermenting the fermentable medium with yeast to produce a fermented medium including ethanol. The method may further comprise: (c) distilling the fermented medium to separate at least a portion of the ethanol from solids in the fermented medium; and (d) producing a distillers grain product from the solids. By using a biocide essentially free of chelating agents, the method does not introduce undesirable chelating compounds into the co-product non-fermentable solids of ethanol production that are processed into distillers grain products.

Abstract: A method for controlling microbial growth in a sugar processing system is disclosed, wherein the method comprises adding a peroxy acid into water of a flume system used for transporting a sugar-containing plant material from a delivery or storage location to a wash system. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the sugar-containing plant material comprises sugar beets, and the peroxy acid comprises peracetic acid.