Description
The Project will make a qualitative leap forward in the existing technology, achieving an innovative system for the de-colourisation of sugar cane. The current refining process of sugar cane is carried out by adding carbon to the mixture. This refining process is repeated as many times as necessary until obtaining the required purity and brix. It implies a high consumption of water, which gets contaminated due to its salinization by the use of lime and CO2 during the process. An innovative granular activated carbon de-colourisation process of sugar cane will be accomplished, reducing the productive cycle with a consequent reduction of water and energy consumptions. The achievement is a new energy efficient process, environmentally friendly, technologically advanced, innovative and a non-existing process at industrial level worldwide.
Summary of project results
Azucarera has a great restriction. It requires a large facilities for a very short seasonality of production which last between 3 and 4 months. With the objective of optimize the facilities, it is carried out sugar cane refining, process that is performed during periods where sugar beet is not processed. That is an enegy-intensive process with a heavy use of water. It has made this project, aimed for developing a new pilot process based on activated carbon to achieve a better whitening of the sugar cane, the reduction or elimination of water polution, and energy consumption. On this project it has succeeded in developing a viable whitening process of refinery syrup, using granular activated carbon, in his pilot plant. It has also achieved an increase in the % of sucrose per package, a reduction of water sent to turbines, and a reduced consumtion of steam It has tested the implementation of granular activated carbon in its refining process, which they are producing satisfactorily.
Summary of bilateral results