The production of sugarThe production of sugar

PROGRAM COMENIUS PROJEKT „Sugar beat”

Production technology of sugar from sugar beets Production technology of sugar from sugar beets consists of several procedures in a sugar factory :consists of several procedures in a sugar factory :

• Washing of sugar beets • Cutting them• Extraction of sugar from cut beets • Cleaning diffusive juice by defecation , saturation• Cleaning and filtration• Thickening juice by evaporating water• Crystallization of the sugar, washing and spinning

crystals of sugar• Drying of crystals of sugar• Ready product

WWashing of sugar beetsashing of sugar beetsSugar beets are the raw material from which we produce sugar in Poland. They are picked from fields in the period

when they have the biggest amount of sugar. The dug out sugar beets contain a lot of pollution, such as,

leaves, stones and remains of sand, which have to be removed.

Cutting them

Sugar beets are tapped by water and cut in narrow stripes. It increases the surface and facilitates extracting of the sugar.

Extraction of sugar from cut beets

The extraction takes place in extractors, where cut sugar beets are in hot water. The extractor is a big container in which cut

beets move towards the opposite direction of the water movement. There is higher concentration of sugar and as a

result one can obtain a solution which is called raw juice. Usually, the juice after the process of diffusion contains on

average 14 % of sugar.

Cleaning diffusive juice by defecationdefecation , saturation

The next stage of processing raw juice is

the removal of solid pollution which cloud

the solution. One of the two commonly used

techniques at this stage is defecation and

saturation. Defecation is adding lime milk to

taste. Lime alkalizes the juice and precipitates pollution, for example,

insoluble sediment.

CCleaning and filtrationleaning and filtration

This sediment is separated, with the help of filters, from the yellow juice.

TThickening juice by evaporating hickening juice by evaporating waterwater

The juice makes its way towards a special place where the evaporation of water till the moment the shapes are created takes place .This place can hold 60 tons of solution. Additinally, small crystals are added to the

condensed syrup in order to start crystallization.

CCrystallization of the sugarrystallization of the sugar, , washing washing and spinning crystals of sugarand spinning crystals of sugar

The mixture of syrup and crystals of the sugar is spinned in centrifugal machines in order to separate crystals.

Centrifugal machines are big metal drums with small holes in the side walls. In time of fast revolutions of

centrifugal machines, the syrup flows away by the holes outside and the crystals precipitate on the walls of the

drum.

DDrying of crystals of sugarrying of crystals of sugar

Before paching, spinned crystals are dried by hot air

Ready product

After drying, cristalline sugar is a ready product.