Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-07
Explosives and Sugar.

Explosives and Sugar.
TT appears that the manufacture Of
explosives is startlingly linked
with the production OF sugar. Dyna-
mite, in brief. blasts the limestone
that is an essential factor in the
process of obtaining the sugar from
sugar beets, and It Is also used; In
many cases, to improve soil condi-
tfons for growing them. Sugar beets,
the experts assure us, are grown sue
cessfully in many states, of which
Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Utah, Idaho
and California are the largest pro-
ducers. In Colorado, It is said. 10000
acres of sugar beets are under cul-
tivation.
As with any other crop. soil, sub
soil, topography and climate. all fg-
ure In the growing of sugar beets.
Almost any fertile soil capable of
producing other good crops, II han
died properly, will be satisfactory for
sugar beets. 1t is impossible for the
beet roots to penetrate surface soil
underlaid with q hardpan. II the
hardpan be a close. compact, earthly
formation, however. the condition can
be overcome by blasting with dyna-
mite of proper strength. but If the
hardpan be Of rock and close to the
surface. little can be done to improve
It's condition for sugar beetA
Favorable topography is Of great
value. Hilly country IL not generally
satisfactory, especially II tho hills
are likely to wash. Gently or mod
erately rolling land IL the most do
sirable in sections where sugar beets
are produced under rainfall. For ir-
rigated land. however, It 10 prefer
able that soil surface be sufficiently
level to permit of uniform irrigation.
Climate is one of the most impor-
,tant factors. The temperate regions
are most successful as sugar beet
regions. The pulp is disposed Of as
fodder for stock. The raw Juice IL
carried through heaters to the mix
charated milk is added. After the
heating and mixing, the Juice Is car
ried into tanks, where carbonic acids
are introduced in order to neutralize
tho lime. From these tho Juice is
carried to the altering processes and
through carbonation tanks to insure
clear juice.
Tho process from this point COM
prises sulphitation, refiltration, re-
Qualification. again refiltration, boil
ing and capitalization, separation
and granulation. Then the product is
ready to be placed on the market for
consumption.
Explosives blast the limestone from
which saccharate milk Of lime. used
to purify the raw juice, is produced.
Limestone and coke in known quantities
are burned in lime kiln. These kilns
are located at the beet sugar refineries,
as the gas produced in the kilns. Is
utilized in the sugar refining proc
essea In one process of refining the
burned lime IL passed to crusher,
elevated to the grinding mills, where
1t il ground to q fine powder. which
must practically all pass 200-mesh
sieve. The powdered lime is then
elevated to a. storage bin. From the
storage bin it is passed through
scales to the coolers, where it is
mixed with solution composed of
molasses and the sweet water from
the saccharate filter process. The
cakes from the filter process are
carried to the mixing tanks, where
they are mixed with sweet water
from tho carbonio process The re-
sulting saccharate Of milk is then
carried to the raw Juice mixing tanks
and mixed with the raw Juice. The
quantity Of lime used is determined
by the quality Of the beets. the fine
ness Of the powder and the tempera-
ture maintained in the molasees solu-
ton. A very high temperature,
coarse powder or too rapid addition
drate. Partial hydration Of the lime
cannot be avoided. If the factory
treats only its molasses production,
additional lime is necessary for the
juice. The consumption of limestone
will vary with the quality Of lime
and, with practice, in sugar beet fac
tories where the Steffens process.
above mentioned, is not used
Lime, in conjunction generally,
with with sulphur dioxide gas, is the
most important chemical used also
in the manufacture Of raw cane
sugar. The amount Of lime used in
proportion to the tonnage OF cane
sugar IL however, much less than in
beet sugar manufacture; neverthe-
less. the total quantity OF lime used
in the cane sugar industry IL large
in the aggregate. Thus dynamite
finds necessary, although indirect,
use in preparing sugar for the table.