Analyzing Dextran in the Sugar Industry: A Review of Dextran in the Factory and a New Analytical Technique

摘要

The presence of dextran in the factory, as a result of microbiological activity, is known to cause processing problems having financial impact beyond merely sucrose loss. The ability to measure the presence of dextran may be a limiting factor in recognizing its true impact on factory operations. A new analytical test method using a monoclonal antibody procedure has recently been developed specifically for the sugar industry. The new test method eliminates the time consuming and labor intensive methods currently practiced for measuring haze formation. It also has the advantage of being able to test dextran in juice, syrup, and molasses, as well as on the final sugar, while the currently used methods test only the final sugar. Using the test in the factory will allow operations to be adjusted accordingly to prevent slowdowns and reduce loss of sucrose. Comparison of test methods by procedure, precision and accuracy show that the monoclonal test procedure is clearly superior. The monoclonal antibody test method is more sensitive and the test can be conducted in 3-5 minutes, a significant improvement over all other methods. The antibody attaches to dextran and produces a haze that is directly proportional to the amount of dextran present. A specially designed nephelometer (turbidimeter) is used to measure the turbidity of the haze formed and the result may be expressed as ppm in solution or as ppm on solids. The test is also portable, allowing on-site testing at suspected trouble areas with immediate results.