Optimizing Pre Liming Ph for Efficient Juice Clarification Process in Sri Lankan Sugar Factories

Abstract

- This study was conducted treating with Milk of Lime to reach different pH levels (T1- with Initial pH, T2, T3 and T4 with 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 of pH respectively) to determine the optimum pre-liming pH which could result in best cane juice clarification in Sri Lankan sugar industries. The experiment design used was RCBD with five replicates. ANOVA followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) were used to identify significant mean differences. Regression analyses were carried out to model the variation of turbidity, mud volume and CaO with change of juice pH. Quadratic model (R2 = 99.2 %, p <0.001) best fitted to explain the effect of pH on turbidity of juice. Effect of pH on deposited mud volume and CaO were explained by cubic models with R2 = 99.4 % (p <0.001) and R2 = 93.9 %, (p <0.001) respectively. Among tested treatments, pH 7.5 is selected as the best for turbidity improvement of the clarified juice while pH 8.5 is the second best. However pH 8.5 (370 ml) was able to deposited significantly high mud volume than pH 7.5 (270 ml). Further, the amount of residual Ca2+ ions in the clarified juice at pH 7.5 (2715 ppm) is clearly lower than the amount of Ca2+ ions remaining in the clarified juice at pH 8.5 (2945 ppm). It is expected to obtain high turbidity and higher mud volume with low sugar inversion at optimum pH. Therefore the results suggest optimum pH range lie around pH 7.5 to 8.5. Conducting similar experiment by using mixed juice extracted from sugar factory mills with pH range around 7.0 to 8.4 at 0.2 increments is suggested to validate the optimum pH.

Investigation of Pozzolanic Properties of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash for Commercial Applications

“…Here EB01, PB01, and SB01 are 200 μm scale images of the three ash samples. Clearly visible large crystalline particles can be identified in all three samples which could indicate that contamination occurred due to the sand, mud, and soil particles mixed with SCBA . EB02, PB02, and SB02 are the 100 μm scale images and depict the presence of large coarse and porous particles.…”

“…Clearly visible large crystalline particles can be identified in all three samples which could indicate that contamination occurred due to the sand, mud, and soil particles mixed with SCBA. 24 EB02, PB02, and SB02 are the 100 μm scale images and depict the presence of large coarse and porous particles. Particle sizes vary intensively while the shapes of the particles can be considered as irregular by a large margin.…”