Refining of Raw Cane Sugar

Sugar refining has always been about precision. A small variation in pH during clarification or supersaturation during crystallization can make the difference between premium white sugar and off-spec product. As global demand for high-purity sugar rises and energy costs climb, refineries are turning to advanced process control and instrumentation to keep operations consistent, efficient, and safe. This article explores how modern sugar refineries use automation systems such as Siemens PCS 7 , smart sensors, and SCADA platforms to optimize performance across every stage of production. 1. Why Process Control Matters in Sugar Refining From the moment raw sugar enters the refinery until the final crystal is packed, dozens of critical parameters must stay within narrow limits. Effective process control ensures: Consistent quality – maintaining purity, ICUMSA color, and crystal size. Energy optimization – balancing steam, electricity, and water consumption. Safety – reducing...

Once raw sugar has been cleaned and melted, it enters one of the most transformative stages in the refining process: carbonation . This step is all about clarity — removing suspended impurities, reducing color, and setting the stage for high-quality crystallization. In this post, we’ll explore how carbonation works, why it’s essential, and how refineries optimize it for performance, yield, and sustainability. 🧪 What Is Carbonation? Carbonation is a chemical clarification method that uses lime (Ca(OH)₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to precipitate impurities from sugar liquor. The goal is to form fine particles of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) that trap and carry away colorants, ash, proteins, and other non-sugar materials. Think of it as a controlled snowstorm inside a tank — tiny calcium carbonate flakes form and settle, sweeping impurities down with them. This process takes place in a specialized vessel called a carbonator — a large, temperature-controlled tank equipped with agitators an...

Crystallization and pan boiling are critical stages in the sugar refining process, directly influencing the quality, yield, and efficiency of sugar production. This article explores the science, equipment, and best practices behind these operations, with a focus on automation tools and energy efficiency to enhance modern refinery performance. In a typical sugar refinery, fine liquor—also known as clarified and decolorized syrup—is obtained after raw sugar solution undergoes clarification and decolorization processes. These steps remove impurities and colorants, producing a high-purity solution suitable for crystallization. After crystallization, the next step is centrifugation, where the massecuite (crystal-syrup mixture) is spun to separate sugar crystals from the remaining mother liquor. The separated crystals are then dried and cooled before packaging or further processing. 🧪 Crystallization Fundamentals Supersaturation Zones : Crystallization begins when the sugar solution reaches...

Sugar Final product of Sugar Refinery. Chemically, a form of Disaccharides or Carbohydrates, essentially sucrose. Raw sugar is produced in a raw sugar plant and requires further processing in a refinery. Raw sugar is the raw material for sugar refineries. Some raw sugar mills have refineries attached to them. And there are standalone refineries that purchase raw sugar from raw sugar mills and refine it in their process house. Sucrose β-D- Fructofuranosyl α –D- glucopyranoside is the chemical name of sucrose, which is pure chemical compound of formula C 2 H 22 O 11 , widely known as sugar.  Source: Wikipedia Ash Content A quantitative measurement of Solid residue from incineration in oxygen presence. High ash content in Raw Sugar will require much more filtration and have a negative impact on total sugar refining capability. Ash content in sugar products is determined by incinerating a sample in the presence of oxygen and measuring the solid residue gravimetrically. During the ...