Question

Why we used carbonation in sugar process?

Answer 1

The carbonation process is designed to separate approximately 40 percent of the soluble non-sugar materials produced by the sugarbeets, which were extracted along with the sugar in the diffuser, from the high sugar content raw juice.

Answer 2

The carbonatation process is used in the production of sugar from sugar beets. It involves the introduction of limewater (milk of lime - calcium hydroxide suspension) and carbon dioxide enriched gas into the "raw juice" (the sugar rich liquid prepared from the diffusion stage of the process) to form calcium carbonate and precipitate impurities that are then removed. The whole process takes place in "carbonatation tanks" and processing time varies from 20 minutes to an hour.
Carbonatation involves the following effects:
• The increase in alkalinity coagulates proteins in the juice.
• Calcium carbonate absorbs colourants
• Alkalinity destroys some monosaccharide sugars, mostly glucose and fructose