Trials and Tribulations of Testing an Organic Flocculant for Colour Removal

摘要

The Sugar Milling Research Institute (SMRI) has long been involved with research into new and cost-effective chemicals and methods for reducing the colour of juices and syrups, and hence raw sugar, in South African sugar mills. This has been driven byseveral factors, principally: The relatively high colours of South African cane varieties. These varieties have been specifically bred for South African conditions, where drought, disease and pest resistance are paramount. As a consequence, many local varieties are thinner in diameter (with a higher proportion of coloured rind to fibre) and have relatively high colours. The extensive use of diffusers in the South African industry (80% of cane crushed is extracted in diffusers), and the well-known factthat higher juice colours are produced by cane diffusers than by milling tandems. The general improvement in sugar quality, particularly with respect to colour, in the world market.