U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Commodity Utilization Research: New Orleans, LA
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Southeast Area New Orleans, Louisiana Southern Regional Research Center Commodity Utilization Research Research





- Klasson, K Thomas
- Lima, Isabel
- Uchimiya, Sophie
- Terrell, Evan
- Bruni, Gillian
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- Publications
- Product Quality and New Uses (306)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Commodity Utilization Research** Project Number: 6054-41000-114-000-D
                        
                        Project Type: In-House Appropriated Start Date: Dec 7, 2020
                        
                        End Date: Dec 6, 2025 **Objective:**
                        
                        Objective 1

Quantify the impact of new sugar processing aids (chemical oxidizers) in combination with existing ones (e.g., enzymes) on raw cane sugar manufacturing.

The research in Objective 1 will address the following sub-objectives:

1.A	Evaluation of oxidizing agents and amylase enzyme for the degradation of soluble and insoluble starch in sugarcane juice.
1.B	Evaluation of oxidizing agents and dextranase enzyme to control microbial growth and dextran levels in sugarcane juice.
1.C	Evaluation of oxidizing agents to reduce sessile microbial growth and film formation on equipment.

Objective 2

Develop sustainable, commercially viable, biobased products from sugar cane and sugar beets byproducts (e.g., sugarcane bagasse, sugar beet pulp, clarifier mud/cake).

The research in Objective 2 will address the following sub-objectives:

2.A	Development of commercially sustainable biobased products from processing byproducts to improve soil health, reduce waste disposal costs for the U.S. sugar manufacturers, and address the food-water-energy nexus.
2.B	Development of commercially sustainable biobased products from processing byproducts (bagasse and beet pulp) for high end horticulture products and soil health applications.
2.C	Production of biobased polymers from sugarcane molasses, bagasse, and clarifier mud/cake.

Objective 3

Enable commercially viable, renewable, biofuels and chemicals from sugar cane and sugar beet processing byproducts (e.g., molasses, clarifier mud/cake).

The research in Objective 3 will address the following sub-objectives:

3.A	Production of solvents and jet fuel pre-cursors from sugarcane molasses and clarifier mud/cake.
3.B	Production of acetoin and 2,3-butanediol from molasses and sugar beet extract.
3.C	Recovery of aconitic acid from sugarcane molasses and testing its potential for nematode bioactivity. **Approach:**
                        
                        Modern sugar production for human consumption, and as a starting point for fermentations, has existed for centuries.  While the sugar manufacturing technology is well known, there is a need by the sugar industry to improve processing and develop new coproducts to increase the profitability for farmers and processors.  This can be accomplished by
* reducing chemicals used to control starch and dextran in raw sugar manufacturing,
* improving the quality of the raw sugar to minimize refining costs,
* reducing sugar losses by microbial action by improving sanitation, and
* more effectively utilizing the byproducts to make coproducts.

Therefore, to address these goals our research will focus on
* identify impact and optimize the use of processing aids to improve the sugar quality while reducing the cost,
* develop biobased products from sugar manufacturing byproducts, and
* develop renewable biofuels and biochemicals from sugar manufacturing byproducts.

The byproducts targeted to produce the bioproducts and biochemicals are
* bagasse, clarifier mud/cake, and molasses from sugarcane processing, and
* pulp, and beet extract from sugarbeet processing.

In any research effort, it is important that performance metrics are established.  Thus, each sub-objective has its own performance metrics.  In all cases, an economic analysis will be performed to determine cost of implementation.  In addition, the impact of byproduct use or process changes will be evaluated in collaboration with local (or impacted) industry using a limited life cycle assessment around the system altered.

The outcome of this research will result in the following anticipated products:
* a lower cost, cleaner process, and improved raw sugar from sugarcane factories,
* advanced fertilizers and high-end soil amendments,
* composite polymers, and
* biochemicals for solvents and fuels, as precursors to other chemicals, and for pest control.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov