Determining Optimum Conditions for Sugarcane Juice Refinement by Pilot Plant Dead-end Ceramic Micro-filtration

The conditions for the refinement of clarified sugarcane juice, including temperature (۵۰o, ۶۰o and ۷۰oC) and pressure (۰, ۰.۵, ۱ and ۱.۵ bars) by micro-filtration membrane technology were investigated. The raw sugarcane juice was initially pre-filtrated with lime and then the juice obtained (clarified juice) processed using a ceramic micro-filter mem-brane (۰.۲ micrometer). The characteristics investigated included brix, polarity (sucrose percent), turbidity, color and purity. The results showed that the effects of different proc-ess conditions with micro-filtration on reduction of turbidity and color were significant at probably <۰.۰۱ and probably <۰.۰۵, respectively. For other characteristics, no significant difference was observed. Finally, a temperature of ۷۰oC and transmembrane pressure of ۱.۵ bar were determined as the optimum conditions for ceramic micro-filtration. Mem-brane processing at ۷۰oC and ۱.۵ bars reduced the turbidity, viscosity and color of clari-fied juice ۵۶.۲۵%, ۱۶.۶۷% and ۶.۴۹%, respectively, and increased ۰.۸۷ units of purity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Ceramic membrane ، Clarification ، Colorants ، Sugarcane juice ، Turbidity