Patent ID: 6709527
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: C13B

Abstract:
A process for treating impure cane derived sugar juice, which process comprisessubjecting, in a clarification stage, impure cane derived sugar juice to microfiltration/ultrafiltration to decrease the levels of suspended solids, organic non sugar impurities and/or colour therein; sequentially passing the resultant clarified sugar juice through at least one ion exchange stage by bringing the clarified sugar juice into contact with a strong acid cation ion exchange resin in the hydrogen form, and thereafter into contact with an anion ion exchange resin in the hydroxide form; withdrawing a purified sugar solution from the ion exchange stage; concentrating the purified sugar solution, to produce a syrup; subjecting the syrup to primary crystallization in at least one primary crystallization stage, to produce refined white sugar and primary mother liquor or molasses; subjecting the primary mother liquor to secondary crystallization in at least one secondary crystallization stage, to produce impure crystallized sugar and secondary mother liquor or white strap molasses.