Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sugar Beet Processing to Sugars

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sugar Beet Cultivation, Management and Processing

Abstract

The beet sugar factory is really a sugar extraction facility where liquid or crystalline sugar, water, animal feeds, fertiliser, molasses, and other by-products are produced. Sugar beet accounts for about one-third of the sugar production in the world and most of this is done in Europe followed by the Russian Federation and the United States of America. Sugar beet entering the factory is cleaned and sliced into thin strips to afford maximum extraction of sucrose while, at the same time, minimising the extraction of non-sucrose. The pulp remaining after extraction is dried and used as animal feed. There may be an option to burn this pulp as fuel or produce biogas via methanisation, but the well-established current feed markets feed would first need to be negotiated. The sugar juice is subjected to a double carbonation process which removes a large portion of the non-sucrose. Factories often operate a lime kiln on-site to provide the active lime and carbon dioxide needed for the carbonation process. Residual soluble calcium can be removed by ion exchange. After evaporation, the white sugar product is obtained through a final purification by crystallisation. The sugar crystals are dried, cooled, and conditioned to produce a free-flowing, mature sugar product ready for packaging or distribution. The run-off syrups from crystallisation are exhausted through further crystallisation steps. These sugars and syrups are recycled and all by-products are valorised.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

ICUMSA:

International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis

References

  • Akeson WR, Stout EL (1978) Effect of impact damage on sucrose loss in sugarbeets during storage. J Am Soc Sugar Beet Technol 20(2):167–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almohammed D, Mhemdi H, Vorobiev E (2017) Purification of juices obtained with innovative pulsed electric field and alkaline pressing of sugar beet tissue. Sep Purif Technol 173:156–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anon (1999) Codex standard for sugars—CODEX STAN, 212. https://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/338/CXS_212e_u.pdf

  • Anon (2014) Opportunities for the fermentation-based chemical industry. An analysis of the market potential and competitiveness of North-West Europe. Deloitte Market Analysis, Amsterdam, 85 pp. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Manufacturing/gx-mfg-opportunities-for-the-fermentation-based-chemical-industry-2014.pdf. Accessed June 2020

  • Anon (2022) Pulp drying in Azucarera, Spain. AB Sugar. https://vimeo.com/193865168. Accessed 1 Feb

  • Asadi M (2007) Sugar-beet handbook. Wiley, New Jersey. a: 143–151; b: 180–183; c: 202–205; d: 333–336; e: 297–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Borroughs P (2007) Juice decalcification and evaporation protection. European Society for Sugar Technology, pp 107–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Briones L (2005) Fundamentals of beet juice carbonation. Sugar Indus Technol, p 6

    Google Scholar 

  • Brühns M, Glavič P, Jensen AS, Narodoslawsky M, Pezzi G, Urbaniec K, Vaccari G (2010) Research for a sustainable European sugar sector. Sugar Ind 135(8):487–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruijn JM (1999) Activité de l’eau dans les cristaux de sucre. Influence des conditions d’extraction et application au stockage du sucre. Spécial Sucres, pp 23–30

    Google Scholar 

  • De Bruijn JM (2012) The fascinating sweet world of sugar technology, never a dull moment. Sugar Ind 137(11):697–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeCloux M (2000) Literature survey on molasses exhaustion. In: SPRI Conference on Sugar Processing Research Sugar Process Research Institute, pp 322–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Deur O, Yacine C (2015) Designing a drying process using superheated steam al low pressure. European Society for Sugar Technology 73 (abstract only)

    Google Scholar 

  • Draycot AP (2006) Sugar beet. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, pp 1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Duraisam R, Salelgn K, Kerebo A (2017) Production of beet sugar and bio-ethanol from sugar beet and it bagasse: a review. Int J Eng Trends Technol 43(4):222–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E4tech, RE-CORD, WUR (2015) From the sugar platform to biofuels and biochemicals. Final Report, Brussels: European Commission, 183 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggleston G, Amorim H (2006) Reasons for the chemical destruction of sugars during the processing of sugarcane for raw sugar and fuel alcohol production. Int Sugar J 108:271–282

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eggleston G, Vercellotti JR (2000) Degradation of sucrose, glucose and fructose in concentrated aqueous solutions under constant pH conditions at elevated temperature. J Carbohydr Chem 19(9):1305–1318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El Shahaby OA, Zohri AA, Mohmed MA, Hafez Al Sayed E, Yousef MM (2014) Determination of sucrose losses in beet sugar manufacturing at Dakahlia sugar company, Egypt. Egyptian Sugar J 7:28–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Godshall MA, Baunsgaard D (2000) The nature of colourant. In: SPRI conference on sugar processing research, pp 122–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickson JL (ed) (1977) Sucrochemistry. ACS symposium series, vol 41. Americal Chemical Society, Washington, DC, p 381

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann CM, Engelhardt M, Gallmeier M, Gruber M, Märländer B (2017) Importance of harvesting system and variety for storage losses of sugar beet. Sugar Ind 143:74–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Hongisto HJ (1977) Chromatographic separation of sugar solutions. Int Sugar J 79(100–104):131–134

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Honig P (ed) (1965) Principles of sugar technology, vol 3. Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, pp 454–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Huijbregts T (2009) Sugar beet quality during long-term storage in clamp and field. European Society for Sugar Technology, pp 23–32

    Google Scholar 

  • ICUMSA Method GS6-1 (1994) The determination of the polarisation of sugar beet by the macerator or cold aqueous digestion method using lead acetate as clarifying agent – official, p 3

    Google Scholar 

  • ICUMSA Method GS6-3 (1994) The determination of the polarisation of sugar beet by the macerator or cold aqueous digestion method using aluminium sulphate as clarifying agent—official: 3 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • ICUMSA Method GS6-5 (2007) The determination of α-amino nitrogen in sugar beet by the copper method (‘blue number’)—after defecation with basic lead acetate—official—after defecation with aluminium sulphate—official: 3 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • ICUMSA Method GS6-7 (2007) The determination of potassium and sodium in sugar beet by flame photometry—official, p 2

    Google Scholar 

  • ICUMSA Method GS8/4/6-4 (2007) The determination of glucose and fructose in beet juices and processing products by an enzymatic method—accepted: 4 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen AS (2016) Environmental and energy saving large pressurized bulk driers. In: The 20th International Drying Symposium (IDS 2016), p 9

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen AS, Morin B (2015) Energy and the environment in beet sugar production. European Society for Sugar Technology, pp 75–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnsonn E, Morrow M, Peacock S, Kochergin V (2019) Molasses desugarization in the U.S. beet sugar industry: recent update. Int Sugar J 121(1449):668–681

    Google Scholar 

  • Justé A, Lievens B, Frans I, Klingeberg M, Michiels CW, Willems KA (2008) Present knowledge of the bacterial microflora in the extreme environment of sugar thick juice. Food Microbiol 25:831–836

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly P (1983) Sugar beet pulp—a review. Anita Feed Sci Technol 8:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kochergin V (2009) Affinity based separation technologies and their role in the current and future sugar industry. European Society for Sugar Technology, pp 127–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Maurus K, Ahmed S, Getz W, Kazda M (2018) Sugar beet silage as highly flexible feedstock for on demand biogas production. Sugar Ind 143(12):691–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGinnis RA, Moroney CJ (1951) Chapter 7. Juice purification. Fundamental chemistry. In: Beet sugar technology, pp 117–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir BM, Anderson AR (2021) Development and diversification of sugar beet in Europe. Sugar Tech, 27 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Muir BM, Parmentier E, De Smet B (2018) Conservation of beet intermediate syrups to extend the sugar producing season. Adv Sugar Crop Proc Conv 2:17 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller H (2021) The “father of the beet sugar industry.” On the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Carl Achard. Sugar Ind 146(4):216–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olbrich H (1963) The molasses. 2006. Biotechnologie-Kempe GmbH, Berlin, p 131

    Google Scholar 

  • Paananen H, Kuisma J (2000) Chromatographic separation of molasses components. Zuckerindustrie 125(12):978–981

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prati E, Maniscalco M (2013) Recommendations on how to increase the sugar beet pulp press efficiency. Int Sugar J 115(1374):10

    Google Scholar 

  • Rademaker K, Marsidi M (2019) Decarbonisation options for the Dutch sugar industry PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. The Hague, PBL publication number: 3481:40

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragauskas AJ, Williams CK, Davison BH, Britovse G, Cairney J, Eckert CA, Frederick WJ Jr et al (2006) The path forward for biofuels and biomaterials. Science 27:484–489. www.sciencemag.org

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rilleux N (1846) Improvement in sugar-making. US Patent US4879A, granted December 10, 1846

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogé B (2007) Effect of calcium on white sugar turbidity. Zuckerindustrie 132(3):170–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogé B, Mathlouthi M (2003) Caking of white crystalline sugar. Int Sugar J 105(1251):128–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Roten CD, Schulze BC (2019) Alkalization pretreatment of thin juice supplied to weak acid cation (WAC) thin juice softening. Agribusiness Intelligence Int Sugar J (5):338–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Šárka E, Bubnik Z, Kadlec P, Vesela-Trilcova A (2008) The particle size of carbonation mud, and possibilities for influencing it. J Food Eng 87(1):45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šárka E, Bubnik Z, Hinkova A, Gebler J, Kadlec P (2013) Beet molasses—desugarisation, composition, properties and application possibilities. Sugar Ind 138(2):105–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schindler H (2021) Storage of white sugar in large-capacity silos. Sugar Ind 146(8):457–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiweck H (1994) Composition of sugar beet molasses. Zuckerindustrie 119(4S):272–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Starzak M, Mathlouthi M (2010) Formation of amorphous sugar in the syrup film—a key factor in modelling of industrial sugar drying. Food Chem 122:394–409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Poel PW, De Bruijn JM, de Visser NHM, Konings J (1990) Balance of cations and anions in sugar beet processing. Zuckerindustrie 115(11):943–949

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Poel PW, Schiweck H, Schwartz T (1998) Sugar technology—beet and cane sugar manufacture. Verlag Dr Albert Bartens KG, Berlin. a: 42–44; b: 216–225; c: 312–313 d: 391–292; e: 484–485; f: 500–523; g: 517–519; h 602–613; i: 874–880

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Van Swaaij N, Huijbregts T (2010) Long-term storability of different sugarbeet genotypes—Results of a joint IIRB study. Sugar Ind 135(11):661–667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen DP (2015) Development of the sugar beet quality in the Netherlands since 1980 and introduction of invert sugar as a new parameter for beet quality assessment. Sugar Ind 140(2):95–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vidal O (2014) First pulsed electric field (PEF) application at industrial scale in beet sugar industry. Sugar Ind 139(1):37–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ziegler J (2022) https://www.zieglerassociates.com/upload/624183/documents/7120006BAE9F7E9B.pdf. Accessed 1 Feb

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tereos Corporate Technology Centre, Aalst, Belgium

    Barbara Magdalena Muir

Authors
  1. Barbara Magdalena Muir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara Magdalena Muir .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India

    Varucha Misra

  2. ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India

    Santeshwari Srivastava

  3. ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India

    Ashutosh Kumar Mall

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Muir, B.M. (2022). Sugar Beet Processing to Sugars. In: Misra, V., Srivastava, S., Mall, A.K. (eds) Sugar Beet Cultivation, Management and Processing. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2730-0_42

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation