Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-11-16

MELSENS METHOD OF EXTRACT
ING SUGAR.
Translated from the French
have never had at my disposal sufficier
quantity OF juice to attempt similar modes Z
proceeding, but | wish nevertheless to sho,
that these methods deserve to be tried, an
recommend to the attention ofM. Casaseca
and of every chemist in similar situation
the following experiment.
Beet juice to which had added 4 per cen
ofa normal solution Of the bi-sulphite ofIim
having been defeated, | poured it into
small pine box, previously well washed will
dissolved bi-sulphte The bottom pierce,
with holes through each of which was passe,
pendant pack thread, afforded in this man
ner numerous means Of draining, and lare,
evaporating surface. As fast as the liouo
was collected in pan placed beneath tn.
threads, it was poured back into the box
Thus concentrated by numerous passages
the syrup was placed ia fat vase where i
crystallized almost entirely. In the sinai
quantity Of mOlasses which was separated
from the crystals, they were produced again
and these last like the preceding presented
the well known characteristic of cane sugar
If with the juice Of beets with mere tempo
rary apparatus the experiment succeeded,
why should It be otherwise with the Juice OF
the cane, purer and richer, in warm coun-
tries in the open air, and with apparatus
carefully constructed? Why not attempt by
the use ofsolar heat, there, where it isiso in
tense, and Of such certain return, to find a
means of taking the place Of Goals or other
combustibles, of which there is such a scar
city: Whatever may be the method of
evaporation which shall be preferred in the
colonies. and as to this, experiments on
large scale alone can give certain light, the
striking results of the operations with few
hundred pounds Of sugar canes, has convinc-
ed me that the extraction of sugar ir the
colonies Is about to be accomplished BY new
and profitable methods, the Juice and the
bagasse henceforth being kept from fermen-
tation. Twas therefore fully disposed to give
myself up Immediately to all the proceedings
necessary to Insure prompt trial of nv sys-
TEN, either in the French Colonies, with the
very generous offers of assistance given me
by NJ. de Tracy, Minister of Marine, or in
Algeria where many well-informed persons
think sugar cane may succeed, and where
the increased yield obtained by my method.
would afford the means Of producing sugars
at low price, which would be well suited to
supply the consumption of the countries
bordering on the Mediterranean. But while
was tempted by very natural desire to
concentrate all my attention on sugar cane
which promised me an unfailing, prompt and
easy success, felt that | owed il to NV
native country which possesses no colonies
and which cultivates the beet root on large
scale, to my master who on so MANY occa-
sIons has taken in hand the cause of indigo
nous sugar, to apply myself and use nv ef.
forts to maintain between beet sugar and
cane sugar an equilibrium which my results
threatened deeply to disturb. Such is the
conclusion arrived at after trying repeated
experiments with beets. Since the extrac-
lion OF cane sugar requires crushing or a
rasping, deiecation, evaporation combined
with filtration an idea may easily be formed
Of the operations to be gone through with,
with beets. 1t does not differ in reality; but
if sugar cane gave me such clear results,
that had not the least doubt myself as to
The advantages which had assigned to the |
process l had employed to produce them;
bee:s on the contrary must needs present
much greater difficulties to be overcome.-I
In effect the manufacture of Indigenous sugar
s much more advanced and leaves much less
margin for improvements As it extracts the
uice in more perfect manner, it loses less
sugar in the puIps. AS it makes use of the
'ulP to feed cattle, the sugar which that re-
aims, is not even lost in reality Having
:oals at cheap rate, the process of evapo-
alton by heat is most convenient for her.
Ind lastly the juice Of the beet containing
many salts which are capable of preventing
ne crysfalllzation of sugar they are the
ause OF loss which the new process can
ot avoid.
The account in round numbers appears to
,e to stand thus: 100 killogrammes of beets
ontain at least in an average year 10 kilog I
{ sugar, one of which remains in the pulp,
vo in the molasses, and seven which the
can send to market in the
hape Of raw sugar. Some manufacturers {
each this last figure by their own statement; ,
ut am obliged to admit that in France {
ven, where this branch Of industry is most !
<iIiully conducted, the general average G
roduct does not exceed six, from whence {
'ere results loss of one per cent which q
sappears in the operation. Be this as it q
ay. | regard as the extent Of improve s
ents to be expected from my process at o
resent, yield increased to 8 90, good a
narter or it may be third above the ave- c
lge yield Of the manufactures taken to- Il
ether. But my aim has not been so much v
furnish large sugar manufactures with q
ore perfect methods of elaboration, as to e
I'd process easily accomplished by every
'dy, and susceptible of. application on il
nall scale on every farm e
While | was examining the question in d
is point of view, Messrs. Claes, Brothers y
thout my knowledge made profitable use v
similar methods on large scale. To l
EN- consequently It belongs to make known t
9 results. As for myself who have made ii
practical experiments of my process with e.
e apparatus existing at present. in sugar u
nnufacfories / leave the results oc the Ia