Abstract: A process to clarify raw sugar cane juice, which comprises adding a source of lime, adding an anionic inorganic colloid or polyacyrlamide, and carbonating.

Abstract: A process system that uses a reduced amount of lime or other base to clarify or purify juice or other process liquid (1) obtained from plant material (2) such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or sweet sorghum. Specifically, apparatus and methods to reduce volatile materials in juice or other process liquid (1) to increase pH requiring the use of less lime or other base to achieve the desired pH values for clarification or purification in subsequent steps, such as preliming (33).

Abstract: A process system that uses a reduced amount of lime or other base to clarify or purify juice obtained from plant material such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or sweet sorghum. Specifically, apparatus and methods to reduce volatile materials in juice providing a product that has an increased pH requiring the use of less lime or other base to achieve the desired pH values for clarification or purification.

Abstract: A crystalline mixture solid composition comprising &agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-1,1-mannitol (GPM), &agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-1,6-sorbitol (GPS-6) and a small amount of &agr;-D-glucopyranosyl-1,1-sorbitol (GPS-1) and a production process therefor. The above crystalline mixture solid composition is produced by mixing a hydrophilic solvent with a solid composition or aqueous solution comprising 50 to 80 wt % of GPM, 1 to 50 wt % of GPS-6 and 0.01 to 20 wt % of GPS-1, separating solid matter from a liquid, and removing water and the solvent from the solid matter and can be obtained as a thin scale crystal.

Abstract: A process system that uses a reduced amount of lime or other base to clarify or purify juice obtained from plant material such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or sweet sorghum. Specifically, apparatus and methods to reduce volatile materials in juice providing a product that has an increased pH requiring the use of less lime or other base to achieve the desired pH values for clarification or purification.

Abstract: A process system that uses a reduced amount of lime or other base to clarify or purify juice obtained from plant material such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or sweet sorghum. Specifically, apparatus and methods to reduce volatile materials in juice providing a product that has an increased pH requiring the use of less lime or other base to achieve the desired pH values for clarification or purification.

Abstract: A process for producing sugar from beets includes the step of filtering a sucrose-containing feed juice, which has been obtained from macerated sugar beets, through a first ultrafiltration membrane that has a first molecular weight cutoff. This ultrafiltration step produces a first ultrafiltration permeate and a first ultrafiltration retentate. The first ultrafiltration permeate is filtered through a second ultrafiltration membrane that has a second molecular weight cutoff that is lower than the first molecular weight cutoff. This second ultrafiltration step produces a second ultrafiltration permeate and a second ultrafiltration retentate. The second ultrafiltration permeate is nanofiltered through a nanofiltration membrane, thereby producing a nanofiltration permeate and a nanofiltration retentate.

Abstract: A process for producing sugar from cane includes the step of filtering a sucrose-containing feed juice, which has been obtained from macerated sugar cane, through a first ultrafiltration membrane that has a first molecular weight cutoff. This ultrafiltration step produces a first ultrafiltration permeate and a first ultrafiltration retentate. The first ultrafiltration permeate is filtered through a second ultrafiltration membrane that has a second molecular weight cutoff that is lower than the first molecular weight cutoff. This second ultrafiltration step produces a second ultrafiltration permeate and a second ultrafiltration retentate. The second ultrafiltration permeate is nanofiltered through a nanofiltration membrane, thereby producing a nanofiltration permeate and a nanofiltration retentate.

Abstract: A process for producing sugar from beets includes the step of filtering a sucrose-containing feed juice, which has been obtained by diffusion from sliced sugar beets, through a first ultrafiltration membrane that has a first molecular weight cutoff. This ultrafiltration step produces a first ultrafiltration permeate and a first ultrafiltration retentate. The first ultrafiltration permeate is filtered through a second ultrafiltration membrane that has a second molecular weight cutoff that is lower than the first molecular weight cutoff. This second ultrafiltration step produces a second ultrafiltration permeate and a second ultrafiltration retentate. The second ultrafiltration permeate is nanofiltered through a nanofiltration membrane, thereby producing a nanofiltration permeate and a nanofiltration retentate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing sugar from cane that includes the steps of: (a) grinding sugar cane or pieces thereof into pulp; (b) mechanically separating juice from the pulp; and (c) membrane filtering the separated juice, for example through a ultrafiltration membrane, producing a retentate and a permeate. Preferably in step (a), the cane is cut into pieces having an average fiber length of less than 10 millimeters, more preferably into pieces having an average fiber length of less than 5 mm with a fiber diameter of about 200 microns or less. The mechanical separation of juice from cane pieces can be done suitably by filtration or centrifugation. It is preferred to adjust the pH of the separated juice to at least about 7 prior to membrane filtration, more preferably to at least about 7.5, for example by adding lime or sodium hydroxide. The permeate can be evaporated and crystallized by conventional means to produce white sugar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing an improved sugar product comprising (a) providing a raw sugar solution having color of 50 to 1,000 Icumsa units and a concentration of 10 to 70 Brix; (b)(1) injecting ozone into the raw sugar solution while imparting agitation to the solution effective to reduce the size of said color-imparting particles into smaller particles, and then (b)(2) discontinuing said injection, but continuing said agitation for a period of time in excess of the duration of step (b)(1), wherein said smaller particles react with ozone, and (c) optionally repeating steps (b)(1) and (b)(2) at least once, wherein the solution is at no point subjected to a precipitation or carbonation step.

Abstract: A sugar refining process uses carbon dioxide obtained from a module containing a plurality of gas-permeable polymeric membranes. Flue gas from a boiler is scrubbed, and then passed through the gas-separation module. The output of the module contains an enhanced concentration of carbon dioxide, in the range of about 20% by volume. The carbon dioxide enhanced gas is then directed into a reactor in which raw sugar is exposed to carbon dioxide to cause carbonation, an essential step in the decolorization of the raw sugar. The same boiler used to produce the carbon dioxide is also used to produce steam which drives the reaction. The present invention provides carbon dioxide for carbonation in a highly efficient manner, as the gas separation membrane has no moving parts and requires little maintenance. The invention is especially suited for retrofitting existing sugar refining plants, to improve their efficiency, at a relatively small cost.

Abstract: In a process for the production of sugar thick juice from lime-containing raw juice and wherein carbon dioxide and soda are added to the lime-containing raw juice in at least one carbonation step, and wherein the thin juice is preheated and evaporated to form thick juice, ammonia in the form of gaseous spent heating medium originating from the preheating of the thin juice is added to the lime-containing raw juice. The method of the invention results in a reduction of the consumption of soda in the carbonation step and in an increased sugar yield.

Abstract: Lime-treated juice in a sugar plant is carbonated in a first stage and a second stage with a carbon dioxide-containing gas to remove lime and impurities therefrom. Exhaust gas from the second stage is recycled to the first stage. Heat can be recovered from exhaust gas from the first stage and from the second stage.

Abstract: A process is provided for utilizing the waste heat content of condensate and/or vapor produced in the manufacture of sugar in which thin juice is cooled, subjected to one or more stages of flash evaporation to concentrate and further cool the juice, after which it is heated with condensate and/or vapor produced elsewhere in the sugar manufacturing process and with incoming thin juice thereby heating the outgoing juice to substantially its original temperature and providing the cooling of the incoming thin juice. In another embodiment completely purified thin juice is concentrated in a multiple effect evaporating plant wherein the vapor produced in the final evaporator is compressed and is returned selectively to one of the preceding evaporators of the evaporating plant for use in heating the juice.

Abstract: A process for treating a raw sugar-containing juice which includes liming, adding hydrogen peroxide, carbonating, filtering the juice to remove the thusly produced calcium carbonate and contacting the filtered juice with SO.sub.2. The treatment results in a decolorized juice which is rendered thermally stable relative to further color formation; the viscosity and the bacterial content of the juice are reduced.

Abstract: Impure sugar solution having a pH of 2 - 6.5 is decolorized by passing the same through a weakly basic anion exchanger having tertiary amine functionality and operated over a hydroxyl form.