Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-10
HOW BEET SUGAR is MADE.
Description of this Important Industry
BY [. Sheldon in Scientific American.


factures each day during the working
season from twelve 10 sixteen tons OF
OF pure granulated sugar. The popular
notion usually associates sugar with
sugar cane and with tropical climates
But this popular notion must change, for
the sugar supply of the world will soon
be manufactured from the beet Two
factories are now i'll operation in New
York state. one at Binghamton and one
al Rome. A large sugar factory is also
located at Bay City, Michigan. Other
factories are being planned in New
York and Michigan, and it will be but a
short time before this industry of the
manufacture OF sugar from beets will
come into wide prominence. So import
ant is the industry likely to become that
a description Of the Binghamton factory
and the methods of extracting the sugar
from the beets will prove of interest.
The main building is substantial
brick structure, and the storage room for
the beets is partially provided for by
four mammoth sheds, each 400 feet long,
l6 feet wide, and ~ feet high. Ii was
thought that these sheds would furnish
sufficient storage room for the beets, but
there are apparently more upon the
grounds than i'll the sheds, and they are
being received from the farmers at the
rate of 100 carloads each day In the
spring of 1898 some 1900 acres of beets
were contracted for; the farmers agree
ing TO raise the beets and the company
agreeing to pay So per ton for the same
Upon arrival at the factory the beets
are unloaded from the cars into the
sheds or upon the ground in the yard.
Underneath each shed. and running its
entire length, is a sluiceway through
which runs water which has been heated
to the boiling point in the factory. The
beets are rolled into this sluiceway and
the current is sufficient TO carry them TO
the factory. The warm water so soaks
and loosens the dirt that it is easily re-
moved when the beets get 10 the washing
machine. When the beets are unloaded
into the sheds the hand work upon them
is completed, and from that time they
are carried forward by water or by
machinery. AS they near the end of the
sluiceway they are seized by screw
elevator and raised to the factory. where
the first operation is the washing. They
are dumped into large tanks where re-
axis thoroughly churn them around and
constantly work them forward toward
the clean water. They pass from the
first washing tank into a second one
and here the process is repeated and the
beets are thoroughly cleaned From
the washing tanks they go to the bucket
the building. The next operation pulp
ing the beets) is done by system of
knives or scoops fastened to horizontal
wheel The knives have scalloped
edges and are situated at the bottom of
a large hopper. AS the beets come
down upon these rapidly revolving
knives they are literally cut into shreds
or pulp. This pulp is put into what is
called the diffusion battery" This
battery is really system Of great tanks
30 connected that the water can pass
from one to the other. The water is put
in upon the beet pulp and the sugar is
soaked out, the water being passed from
one tank to another until il has become
when IL is drawn off. The
fresh water is always put in upon the
pulp, which is most nearly exhausted of |
It's sugar contents. The waste pulp is |
carted out Of the building and is almost |
entirely waste product. 1t is relished |
by stock, and no doubt will soon be |
priced as stock food. The Juice is
drawn from the battery and measured |
quantity is passed on TO the lime tanks. |
Here il comes in contract with the milk |
If lime, which removes certain impuri.
lies. Carbon dioxide, which has been
stored from the burning limestone, is |
forced into the mixture Of milk Of lime |
and the juices from the diffusion battery, |
and the lime is precipitated with the i'm.
purities which it has absorbed. After
passing through various mixing tanks, |
The juice passes to the filter presses |
Here the juice is forced through cloth and |
zones out almost as clear as water. |
After passing through two sets of these
tilter presses. the juice goes to the
bleaching process. This is done by |
means of fumes of sulphur. The juice |
Is made to drip slowly over board filled |
with holes, and the sulphur dioxide is
brought into intimate contact with every |
drop. All of these processes are pre-
urinary to the boiling down" After
the juice goes to what is
called the triple effect vacuum pans.
These pans are simply large upright
boilers which have had the air partially