The papers presented at the Meeting are listed below, linked to an abstract of the paper. In the future it will be possible to request a copy of each paper while reading the abstract.
#853 Exploring the Subtleties of Low Temperature Regeneration of Sugar Decolorization Activated Carbon
#854 Decolorization of Refinery Liquors: A Technical and Economic Comparison Between the Different Systems Using Activated Carbon and Resins
#855 Bagasse Fly Ash – A Useful New Product?
#856 What Makes For a Successful Asset Recovery Program
#857 Symposium - Filtration [NO ABSTRACTS]
#858 The Advantages of Ecosorb Pre-Coats in Liquid Sugar Processing
#859 Description of the Rogers Sugar Vancouver Refinery
#860 Improvements in White Sugar Crystallization Control at C&H Sugar Co.
#861 Performance Management at Savannah Sugar Refinery
#862 A Pragmatic Approach to Knowledge Management
#863 Evaluation of the STG High Grade Continuous Centrifugal at Huletts Refinery
#864 Plants Trials of Non-Toxic XYZ 1 Clarifying Reagent For Polarization Analysis of Sugar
#865 Refined Sugar Products and Antioxidants Production From Cane Sugar Mills
#866 Options At Annexed Sugar Refineries
#867 Modeling Sugar Crystallization Including Morphology Qantification
#868 Decolorization of Sugar Solutions With Oxidants and Ion Exchange Resins
#869 Studies In The Extration of Cane Wax and Analysis of Press Mud of Sugar Mills of Indian Punjab and Effect of Cane Wax on Cane Juice Settling, Turbidity and ICUMSA COLOR
#853 EXPLORING THE SUBTLETIES OF LOW TEMPERATURE REGENERATION OF SUGAR DECOLORIZATION ACTIVATED CARBON
Hugh McLaughlin, Hugh McLaughlin, P.E., Groton, MA, USA, and Stephen Clarke, Florida Crystals Corp., South Bay, FL, USA
A new low temperature process, called CarbOxLT (which stands for Carbon Oxidation at Low Temperatures and pronounced Car-Box-Lite), is being developed for the regeneration of spent sugar decolorization activated carbon. The new process features lower temperatures than the current multiple hearth reactivation process and has the potential to cut the energy requirement for regenerating spent activated carbon to less than 1000 Btu’s per pound. In addition, the make-up requirements per cycle are expected to be less than the current reactivation process and the capital equipment costs will be significantly less than the multiple hearth technology due to the lower operating temperatures and lack of refractory-lined equipment.
The high temperature reactivation process decomposes the adsorbed organics into volatiles and inert “char”, which is deposited in the pores of the activated carbon. Subsequently, the char and some of the activated carbon graphitic backbone are removed by the water gas shift reactions. In contrast, the low temperature regeneration process involves the direct oxidation of the adsorbed organics by reaction with molecular oxygen, with little residual char formation. This preferential oxidation of the adsorbed organics over the activated carbon graphitic backbone produces a regenerated material with superior adsorption capabilities.
The low temperature regeneration process has been demonstrated on actual samples of sugar decolorization activated carbon. The results of those studies will be presented, in addition to a review of the overall low temperature regeneration process, the current understanding of the regeneration mechanism and current state of commercial development.
#854 DECOLORIZATION OF REFINERY LIQUORS; A TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS USING ACTIVATED CARBON AND RESINS
Pascal Galman, Francis Gula, and Dominique Paillat, Applexion, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA
Decolorization of aqueous sugar syrups derived from corn, beets and cane has traditionally relied upon either carbonaceous adsorbents or ion exchange resins. Nowadays numerous decolorizing units are operating throughout the world using one or a combination these two adsorption media and numerous publications have reported pro and contras of both techniques.
Nevertheless when facing the decision to expand or modernize the existing decolorization facilities it is essential to compare the technical and economical aspects of both adsorption processes according to the local specific conditions.
The objective of this presentation is to review the latest available designs in terms of processes and operating costs, listing their advantages and disadvantages.
#855 BAGASSE FLY ASH – A USEFUL NEW PRODUCT?
Marianne McKee and Mary An Godshall, Sugar Processing Research Institute, Inc., New Orleans, LA, USA
Bagasse fly ash, the material remaining after bagasse has been burned in the boilers during sugarcane processing, is considered a waste product. In a few places, it has been used as a replacement for bagacillo to improve mud filtration. The only known commercial use for this material is as an amendment for potting soils. Recent literature has shown that fly ash has the ability to absorb pesticides from water. This makes way for a new value-added product for the sugar industry. In this study, we examined the usefulness of bagasse fly ash as an adsorbent for textile waste dyes, heavy metals and quaternary amines. Results have been promising, with removal of up to 99.8 % of textile waste dyes and 7.5% removal of arsenic to 99.9% removal of chromium, mercury, and lead. Examination of the structure and composition of fly ash indicates that the removal is based on the process of chemisorption.
#856 WHAT MAKES FOR A SUCCESSFUL ASSET RECOVERY PROGRAM
Kenneth Miller, Perry Videx, LLC, Hainesport, NJ, USA
Almost every mill has equipment taken off line but not disposed of. The typical mill "boneyard" is a combination of useful spares, working equipment and scrap. Organizing surplus assets may not be a high priority at the mill level. It does not increase production, and disposal usually results in a charge to earnings instead of increasing ROI.
The corporate perspective may be quite different. The best possibility is the reuse of assets from one mill's surplus to another's current needs Instead of a charge to earnings, there is cost avoidance ? equipment was procured without expenditure. The larger the organization, the greater the chance of reuse. The asset recovery function is more efficient at the corporate level as one person can organize and administer the surplus assets of many mills.
The keys to managing a successful corporate asset recovery program are to give incentives to the mills to find value in their surplus assets, and make the process as easy as possible. Instead of a time consuming task that results in a charge to earnings, a good corporate program needs to reward the mills for value provided to the corporation, while using a minimum amount of the mill's human resources. Incentives might include treating a portion of the corporate reuse cost avoidance as revenue to the supplying mill, making asset recovery one of the objectives for mill performance metrics, and rewarding the mill for cash generated by sales of surplus equipment outside the corporate group. To simplify the asset recovery process it is important to have a uniform system to identify and categorize the equipment, broadcast its availability within the company, offer equipment outside the corporate group if not reused within, and track both work in process and results.
#857 SYMPOSIUM - A: SUGAR LOSSES B: FOOD SECURITY/FOOD SAFETY- No abstracts at this time
#858 THE ADVANTAGES OF ECOSORB PRE-COATS IN LIQUID SUGAR PROCESSING
George Jasovsky, Graver Technologies, Glasgow, DE, USA
This paper will demonstrate the advantages of using fine particle adsorbents / resins in a pre-coat mode. It is well known that the rate of adsorption increases as the particle size of the adsorbent decreases. The equation that describes the effect is:
Rate ~ 1/D² where D is particle diameter.
Because of the D² effect even a relatively small decrease in particle diameter can have a large impact on the adsorption rate.
Most fine particle adsorption processes are conducted in batch systems. The rate advantage is achievable but batch equilibrium conditions prevent maximum utilization of the adsorbent and limit the desired purity.
Pre-coatable adsorbents allow the use of fine particles in a dynamic system thereby avoiding equilibrium and maximizing capacity and purity.
Data will be presented demonstrating the qualitative and economic benefits of Ecosorb pre-coats in the decolorization of liquid sugar.
#859 DESCRIPTION OF THE ROGERS SUGAR VANCOUVER REFINERY
Donald Ryan, Rogers Sugar Ltd. Vancouver, B.C., Canada
In conjunction with a beet factory located in Taber Alberta, the Rogers Sugar Vancouver cane refinery provides Western Canada with a full range of high quality sugar and syrup products. The refinery commenced construction in 1890 and produced its first sugar products the following year. From that humble beginning, the Vancouver refinery today is capable of producing 250,000 metric tonnes per year of bulk and specialty sugar products. Vancouver supplies British Columbia with granulated sugar products and not only B.C. but all of Western Canada with specialty yellows, browns, cubes and syrup. The uniqueness of the market means that a high percentage of the raw sugar impurities are sold as final product and limited molasses is generated.
Many changes have taken place over the 114 years of operation, in processing, packaging, shipping practices, in management structure and ownership. Vancouver obtains it raw sugar from Australia and for the past several years, Guatemala. This paper will describe today’s Vancouver operation from the intake of raw sugar, through the process, packaging and shipping. It will also highlight changes that have occurred in operations and corporate structure since S.I.T. was last held in Vancouver in 1990.
#860 IMPROVEMENTS IN WHITE SUGAR CRYSTALLIZATION CONTROL AT C&H SUGAR CO.
Jean Paul Merle and Vijay Hemraj, C&H Sugar Co., Crockett, CA, USA
The previous control system for white sugar crystallization used an absolute pressure – temperature relationship to determine the seed point. Grain establishment was carried out by increasing the absolute pressure and reducing the steam flow rate. Boiling consistency control was carried out by pan circulator motor load. The new system is microwave-based. The sugar liquor is based on density as indicated by the microwave sensor. Grain establishment is controlled in two steps: a grain-formation period controlled by a timer and a dilution period, also controlled by a timer, that admits increasing amount of fresh feed liquor, water or a mixture of liquor and water. During the boiling period, the concentration set point is changed continuously as the massecuite level increases. Final concentration is carried out by pan circulator motor load. The whole boiling operation is monitored and controlled by DSSE system (Danish Sugar & Sweetener Engineering).
#861 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AT SAVANNAH SUGAR REFINERY
Philip Rowland, Imperial Sugar Co. – Savannah Refinery, Savannah, GA, USA
This paper will describe the various components of the performance management system currently employed at the Savannah Sugar Refinery. The objectives of the performance management system are to improve operating efficiencies, to improve customer service, and to reduce operating costs. The key strategies implemented include aligning objectives throughout the organization, developing a comprehensive system of accountability and feedback, improving communication and information sharing, promoting focused organizational learning, and increasing involvement, commitment, and buy-in while expanding authority and responsibility at all levels in the plant. The paper will discuss the contribution from each of the strategies in achieving our operating objectives and offer examples of how the strategies have been implemented. Additionally the paper will include an analysis of the system performance relative to its operating goals.
#862 A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
A. Herbertz, and Philippe Bausier, Raffinerie Tirlemontoise, SA, Tienen, Belgium
Looking at the great upheaval which is expected by the European sugar industry in the coming years, The Raffinerie Tirlemontoise wrote down ‘Know-How management’ in its strategic priorities, as a basic condition for a high productivity level and adapted services to its customers. A large-scale project has been launched to assure the quality and the extension of this Know-how in a flexible way and therefore allowing for large, but controlled, diffusion.
Prepared into a multidisciplinary workteam, this project has been baptized KIM: Know-how and Idea Management.
In a first phase, three sub-projects were decided: a Portal as unique access point with several “friendly” functionalities, a documents data base for the Research department and an interactive management system for the Quality departement. The second phase covers a wide document management repository directly linked with our Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
In the third phase, actually worked out, we are developing collaboration tools which must allow for a smother integration process between the different production units and quick interactions inside internal and international working teams, i.e. Communities of Practices.
The movement we have initiated is just starting. A lot of ideas for future developments are today coming out from every corner of the company : the foundations are built, let’s now grow the Knowledge house.
#863 EVALUATION OF THE STG HIGH GRADE CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL AT HULETTS REFINERY
M. Moodley and P. M. Shorn, Tongaat-Hulett Sugar Ltd., Glenashley, South Africa, G. Mitchell, Tongaat-Hulett Sugar Refinery, Durban, South Africa, and F. Buyck, Fives-Cail, Villeneuve, France
Due to the reported benefits on the use of continuous centrifugals in refineries elsewhere in the world, it was decided by Tongaat-Hulett Sugar Ltd to evaluate the STG continuous centrifugal at their sugar refinery in Durban, South Africa. This paper deals with the installation, commissioning and evaluation of the continuous centrifugal. Results of tests done on first, second and third refined massecuites are presented. Some problems experienced during the trial are discussed, and the benefits of using continuous centrifugals in the refinery are given.
#864 PLANTS TRIALS OF NON-TOXIC XYZ 1 CLARIFYING REAGENT FOR POLARIZATION ANALYSIS OF SUGAR
Shu Juan Yu, Professor, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China, and Chung Chi Chou, Visiting Professor, South Huntington, NY, USA
Lead sub-acetate, considered to be the most effective analytical clarifying reagent for sugar solution, has been used for over 100 years. However, lead is listed as a toxic hazardous material by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring strict handling and disposal procedures. Lead affects the central nervous system, and the most acute cases of lead poisoning can lead to death. Lower exposures are associated with coma, convulsions, and damage to the brain, kidneys, and bone marrow. Trace lead level in blood have been associated with reduced intelligence, impaired hearing, and decreased growth.
The U.S. sugar refiners have discontinued used of lead sub-acetate by switching to high wave length polarimetry method since early 1990’s. Many U.S. raw sugar producers have used ABC clarifying reagent. Sugar processing Research Institute has successfully developed diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) based XYZ clarifying reagent. However the reagent is found to be too expensive for used in developing countries.
In this paper, the results of tests of a modified XYZ 1 reagent in two factories, in China and India respectively, have been presented. The less expensive XYZ 1 reagent has been found to be an effective alternative clarifying reagent for lead sub-acetate for process control purposes.
#865 REFINED SUGAR PRODUCTS AND ANTIOXIDENTS PRODUCTION FROM CANE SUGAR MILLS
Chung Chi Chou, Emeritus, South Huntington, New York, USA
Functional food products with excellent antioxidative strength have been prepared/extracted from sugarcane. The extraction process basically is a decolorization process by polymeric adsorbents resin using selected sugar streams from the mills, followed by recovery of antioxidants via desorption of colorants from the resin using alkaline solution,etc.. The recovered sugar colorants/antioxidants solution is further purified by deashing using cationic exchange resin.
The antioxidative capacities of the extraction products are quantified in term of ORAC (Oxygen Redical Absorbance Capacity) unit as per analytical method developed at the Agricultural research Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The prepared antioxidants enriched functional food extracts typically contain over one (1) millions ORAC units per100 gram of dried solid, as compared to spinach with 1260 ORACunit/100 gram.
The decolorized sugar solution are then crystallized to produce granulated refined sugar, liquid sugar for beverage industry and other food grade white sugar depending on the feed materials to the process.
This process of refined sugar products manufacturing from cane sugar mills, up to 50% of mill total sugar output, is much less capital intensive as compared to other conventional processes, economically very attractive with value added antioxidants as by-product, and is environmentally friendly with no dark brine waste disposal problem. This Cti process, in conjunction with SAT process, can produce 100% of refined sugar products directly from sugar mills with antioxidants as valued added products.
#866 OPTIONS AT ANNEXED SUGAR REFINERIES
Stephen J. Clarke, Florida Crystals Corporation, South Bay, FL, USA
A sugar refinery annexed to a raw sugar operation has certain advantages, especially if it operates only when raw sugar is being produced. Complications arise when the refinery is operated during the non-crop period due to (i) the cane operation producing sugar for immediate refining and also for storage for later refining and (ii) use of raw factory equipment as part of the refinery operation. Conventional raw sugar quality parameters tend to be global rather than local, and the issue becomes the optimization the raw sugar quality for the specific refinery, assuming that the raw sugar operation is the only source of raw for the refinery and that all the raw is consumed by this refinery. Is the raw sugar operation flexible enough to consistently produce raw sugar that can be processed efficiently by a refinery with limitations in some unit operations? Would this require additional and/or non-standard purification systems in the raw factory and can these be justified? The essential question is how minimal can a refinery be and maintain refined sugar quality. Published data and recent thoughts on these matters may give some preliminary answers. Whatever the answers to these questions are, close coordination between raw house and refinery operating personnel is essential.
#867 MODELING SUGAR CRYSTALLIZATION INCLUDING MORPHOLOGY QUANTIFICATION
F. Rocha, S. Feyo de Azevedo, N. Faria, , Univ. of Porto, Portugal; M. N. Pons, CNRS-ENSIC-INPL, Nancy, France
An image analysis technique developed by the authors allows the quantification of the morphology of sugar crystals, namely its agglomeration degree.
In this work, this technique is used to validate a model for sugar crystallisation in a laboratory batch crystalliser. The validation data includes the on-line measurements of the sugar contents in the solution and the system temperature. The distributions of the crystal population size and of the degree of agglomeration are used as final validation data.
The model considers crystal growth, nucleation and agglomeration.
#868 DECOLORIZATION OF SUGAR SOLUTIONS WITH OXIDENTS AND ION EXCHANGE RESINS
Luis San Miguel Bento, Audubon Sugar Institute, L.S.U., St. Gabriel, LA, USA
Oxidants are used in sugar refineries and cane mills to decolorize sugar solutions. In this study the decolorization effect of hydrogen peroxide on cane raw sugar liquors is presented. The influence of pH, temperature and contact time on the oxidants performance is evaluated. Tests with sodium hypochlorite were also performed. With this oxidant, it was observed that the color of decolorized liquors increases with temperature and time. For this reason, no further tests were performed with hypochlorite. Further studies with hydrogen peroxide were performed in order to evaluate the effect of colorant oxidation on ion exchange resin performance. After oxidation, organic acids are formed and the molecular weight of large colorants will decrease. These results are beneficial for ion exchange resin application to sugar liquor decolorization. Results of tests with raw cane sugar liquors previously decolorized with hydrogen peroxide are presented. A longer resin working cycle was observed and final resin color was lower than with non-oxidized liquor. As a result of this, chemicals and utilities used for regeneration, per weight of liquor dry matter treated, will decrease. Also, less effluents and sweet water will be produced, and effluent color will be lower than in normal conditions. Effluent treatment costs will therefore also be reduced.
#869 STUDIES IN THE EXTRACTION OF CANE WAX AND ANALYSIS OF PRESS MUD OF SUGAR MILLS OF INDIAN PUNJAB AND EFFECT OF CANE WAX ON CANE JUICE SETTLING, TURBIDITY AND ICUMSA COLOR
Gurrinder Singh Bhuttar , Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India
The cane sugar industry has several co-products of immense potential value. The filter cake alone is enriched with a myriad of chemical entities such as proteins, cane wax, - sito sterols, stigma, macro- and micro – nutrients and other organic and inorganic matter of immense commercial value. During sugar manufacture, the raw cane juice is treated in a variety of ways during the clarification process ranging from simple defecation using milk of lime to obtain moderate clarification, carbonation employing addition of CO2 and SO2 with milk of lime or the double sulphitation process is the method of choice of most of the Indian sugar mills. The filter cake carries large quantities of organic and mineral matters including most of the proteins originally present in the cane juice. The quantity of wet filter cake obtained during process is 4% of the cane crushed. The filter cake is a rich source of an innumerable number of chemicals and can be used as unconventional raw material for commercially useful materials typified by cane wax, proteins, bio- gas, cement, cattle feed, micro- and macro- nutrients etc. The chemical composition of the filter cake in not homogeneous or fixed but varies from region to region depending upon the soil conditions, nutrients applied, process of clarification and many other factors.
Also, the raw juice invariably contains an appreciable quantity of coarse and colloidal wax, resins, and fats in suspension. In principle, these can bind to the settling material and affect the settling process as these being of low density, tend to rise to the top during clarification process. A part of this gets settled along with the filter cake the remaining plague the clarified juice as well as the cane sugar products. A question often raised, and certainly subject to definitive answer, is how do this additional wax effects the settling process as whether it has some role in decreasing the ICUMSA color as it can bind, though physically, with the colorants present in the clarified juice.
Keeping in view the above, in the present presentation, an economical and practicable method for extraction of wax and its chemical analysis will be presented. Various parameters affecting the extraction process have been studied and finally the analysis of filter cake for other constituents such as micro- and macro- nutrients and proteins, which has been made for the first time for a sugar industry of Punjab, shall also be presented. Also the effect of dosing the cane juice with varying amounts of extracted wax along with a dispersing agent to study its effect on the settling of filter cake and ICUMSA color of the clarified juice shall be presented.