Certainly! Here are the steps for making sugar from sugar cane, as you mentioned:
Sugar cane is harvested by cutting the stalks close to the ground when they are mature. The harvested sugar cane is then transported to the sugar mill for processing.
At the sugar mill, the sugar cane stalks are crushed to extract the sugary juice contained within. This is typically done using heavy rollers or mills that squeeze the juice out of the fibers.
The extracted juice undergoes a clarification process to remove impurities. Lime (calcium oxide) or milk of lime (calcium hydroxide) is added to adjust the pH and aid in the coagulation and settling of impurities. This step helps remove non-sugar components and unwanted particles from the juice.
The clarified juice is then concentrated by evaporation. It goes through a series of evaporators where excess water is removed, and the sugar concentration increases. This process helps thicken the juice and concentrate the sugars.
Once the juice is concentrated to the desired sugar concentration, it is further processed to induce sugar crystallization. This is achieved by cooling the concentrated juice and either adding seed crystals or using specialized equipment designed to promote crystal formation. As the juice cools, sugar molecules come together and form crystals.
The sugar crystals are separated from the remaining liquid, known as molasses. This is typically done using centrifuges, which spin the mixture at high speeds. The centrifugal force separates the sugar crystals from the molasses. After separation, the sugar crystals are dried to remove any remaining moisture. This is done using hot air, and the crystals are continuously agitated to ensure even drying.
These are the main raw material for sugar production. Sugar cane beads are obtained by harvesting and processing sugar cane stalks.
Lime, specifically calcium oxide (CaO) or milk of lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2), is used in the clarification process. It helps adjust the pH of the sugar cane juice and aids in the coagulation and settling of impurities during the clarification step.
Water is an essential component throughout the sugar production process. It is used for various purposes, such as diluting lime solution, extracting juice from sugar cane beads.