Assessment of the Bioactive Capacity of Mixed Juice Scum Extracts from Sugarcane Mills

Abstract

The scum is a semisolid by-product in canesugar mills where flotation technology is used for mixed juice clarification. To evaluate its potential bioactive properties, an aqueous extract, a 70% ethanol extract and a 100% ethanol extract from the scum were obtained and used for antioxidant activity assessment. Chemical assays of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2 0 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) were used to determine the total antioxidant activity, and a chemiluminescence assay was conducted to assess the hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide anion (O 2•2 ) radicals' scavenging activity. Results showed that all extracts had high antioxidant activity, of which the 100% ethanol extract was more powerful in DPPH, ABTS and •OH assays. Potential antioxidants in ethanol extracts could be associated with sugarcane wax, polyphenols and flavonoids, while in the aqueous extract, it could be water-soluble vitamins and proteins which resulted in the highest (O 2•2 ) scavenging activity. This study suggested that the scum has potential bioactive application.

Bioactive compounds as an alternative for the sugarcane industry: Towards an integrative approach

“…(c) Variations in different products of sugarcane processing (brown sugar [ 10 , 59 , 60 ], white sugar [ 8 , 59 , 60 ], refined sugar [ 59 ], and non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) [ 59 , 60 ]). (d) Variations in different by-products generated during sugarcane processing (bagasse [ 42 , 43 ], scum [ 47 ], filter mud [ 45 ], molasses [ 8 , 45 , 65 , 108 ], and vinasse [ 9 ]). NR: Data not reported.…”

“…This suspended material, called scum, is removed by filtration to obtain an insoluble-solids-free juice known as draft juice [ 45 , 46 ]. Some studies have reported that scum can be considered as a suitable by-product for extracting BCs, since contents of around 25.8 mg of polyphenols/g of sample (on a dry matter basis) have been reported, and it presents a high association with antioxidant activities in vitro [ 47 , 48 ]. Concerning the raw juice, this is a turbid liquid with a marked coloration in different green-brown shades and serves as a substrate for the subsequent extraction of sucrose.…”

“…Filtered raw juices, i.e., the draft juices, undergo a clarification process, going through a series of phases that include the following treatments: sulphitation, liming, heating, and flocculation. From this process, a clear juice free of proteins, waxes, polysaccharides, color formers compounds, and high molecular weight compounds is obtained [ 10 , 45 , 47 ]. As waste material, a by-product called filter mud is generated, which represents an approximate production of 30 kg/ton of milled sugarcane and has traditionally been used as fertilizer in sugarcane crops [ 57 ].…”

“…Meanwhile, sugar, the final product of the manufacturing process, is obtained when syrup is conducted through a series of vacuum crystallization pans of three continuous stations to induce the nucleation and growth of sugar crystals [ 47 ]. In each station, a mixture of supersaturated syrup and sucrose crystals, called massecuite, is formed, which classifies according to its purity in A, B, and C massecuite [ 10 , 46 , 47 ]. These massecuites are centrifuged to separate the crystals, generating one output for each station: A, B, and C molasses.…”

Improving the quality of Vernonia amygdalina extract by ultrasound‐assisted extraction coupled with gas bubble flotation

“…The enrichment of these hydrophobic substances at the gas-liquid interface of the bubbles leads to the formation of a foam layer, which is rich in the desired compounds and is collected readily (Ma, Xiu et al 2002). Compared to conventional separations, bubble separation holds certain advantages (Lu, Pu et al 2017). The adsorption process is less favorable for compounds with a high molecular weight, which would reduce the amount of fat and chlorophyll contaminating the extract.…”