RECENT ADVANCES IN THE DESIGN OF EQUIPMENT USED FOR CONTINUOUS PURIFICATION AND SEPARATION PROCESSES IN THE SUGAR INDUSTRY

摘要

In this paper we follow various technological discoveries and developments in the design of equipment used for purification and separation processes in the sugar industry. For approximately 100 years, ion exchange has been a known and variously applied purification and separation technology used by scientists and producers. It would seem obvious that the producer's objectives have always been to achieve the highest quality products and the lowest operation costs, but also with the least amount of technological complexity. As a strategy to reach these goals, much effort has been expended in the quest to improve continuous ion exchange (CIX) systems by reducing utility needs and resin degradation or loss while at the same time improving productivity and reliability. Recent developments from a number of companies have pushed equipment boundaries, resulting in a variety of unique commercial equipment designs each with a varying degree of success. The challenge set forth for all new designs has been a truly continuous process with no sacrifice in the aforementioned benefits. One very recent equipment design based on system symmetry appears to meet many of these objectives with greater flexibility and less complexity resulting in better economics for the producer.