Inventors:
Otto G. Hohnerlein - Savannah GA
Willie E. Smith - Tybee Island GA
Nicholas T. Rimedio - Savannah GA
Assignee:
Savannah Foods & Industries, Inc. - Savannah GA
International Classification:
C13K 300
C13D 314
Abstract:
This invention provides a method for the purification of cane juice to produce a finished product of very high quality. This purification process and general concept differs from existing cane juice purification schemes in that traditional methods either produce crystalline raw sugar or a liquid product commonly referred to as high test or fancy molasses. The processing of the cane juice generally comprises the steps of: (a) pretreating the cane juice to remove any soil or foreign matter and substantially reducing the total cation concentration of the cane juice; (b) hydrolyzing the pretreated cane juice to a desired degree; (c) purifying the hydrolyzed juice without precipitation or crystallization of raw sugar by subjecting the solution obtained in step (b) to gross demineralization and decolorization; and (d) concentrating the purified solution obtained in step (c) to obtain a pure odorless finished sugar product which meets or exceeds existing standards for pure sugar. Preferably, these steps are carried out by: (e) acidifying fresh raw sugar cane juice to a pH lower than its naturally occurring pH (e. g. a pH of 2 to 5 or less) and heating the acidified juice at a temperature ranging from between about 40. degree. and 95. degree. C.
