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    LIBRO DE EXPLICACIÓN DEL PROCESO DE PRODUCCIÓN DE AZÚCAR DE CAÑA

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    LIBRO DE EXPLICACIÓN DEL PROCESO DE PRODUCCIÓN DE AZÚCAR DE CAÑA

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    191 views81 pages

    Saranin - Sugar Technology Reviews

    Uploaded by

    Richard Rondón
    LIBRO DE EXPLICACIÓN DEL PROCESO DE PRODUCCIÓN DE AZÚCAR DE CAÑA

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    This new international journal has been initiated as a means of keeping reader uptodate with progress in the technology of manufacturing and refining suger both cune and beet, Iwill present reviews, which will summarise systematical and critically the developments of recent years EDITORS G. H. Jenxins (Brisbane) R.A. McGinnis (San Francisco) ADVISORY BOARD J.R. ALLEN (Mackay, Queenshind) Ti, BRUNTcIIE-OrstN (Copenliagen) Carus (Norwich) F. M. CHAPMAN (West Vancouver, B.C.) K. Douwes Dekker (Miliga) §, N.Gunbu Rao (Kanpur, U.P.) Hi, Hinscumutcen (Berlin) E. Huaor (Saint-Denis, Réunion) G. Mantovani (Ferrara) G. P. Meave (New Orleans) J. H. Payne (Honolulu) Submission of papers Manuscripts should be sent to the Editor G. H. Jenkins University of Queenstand Faculty of Engineering St. Lucia, Queensland 4067 ‘Australia Subseription price per volume Difl. 73,50 plus Df, 7.00 postage or eau alent (US $ 25.20 incl. postage) Subscriptions should be sent to sublishing Company, P.O. Rox 21 1, Anisterdam, The Netherhi POWDER TECHNOLOGY An International Journal on Fundamental Properties, Behaviour, and Handling of Powders and Granular Materials allors: J.€. Wiliams, Schoo! of Powder Technology, University of Bradiord, Bradtord 7, Yorks, UK (Co-ordinating Editor) Dr. .F, Kelsall, C.8,1.R.O. Division of Chomical Enginearing, Melbourne, Vic, Australla ‘A. Loberman, Royce Instruments, ine, Menlo Park, CA, USA published monthly as {rom 1072 Vol + (1967198) Vol. 2 (1980!69) | Price per volume: Vor 2 topo) | Vole tte: sir 11780 (USS 010) | post tree yee tiorars) | Vol. $88: Sir. 110.— (USS 2820) Vole. 86 (1972) or frthor information, samplo copies, et. please apply 'o Elsevier Sequoia S.A. pore: P.0. Box 651 § 1001 Lausanne 4 Swittorand ee _ W760 ZUCKERINDUSTRIE Tadustea sverlOre « Industria a fon Technik, Anbaw und WH For the last 94 years the ZE\TSCHRIFT FUR DIE ZUCKERINOUSTRIE has been the foremost German periodical for suocr technology and haa Besconomics. Each lesug contains oxcaliont scienti¢ ‘and practical suatios written by experts of international repute. Each article conclu- arte eta dotalled summary in German, English, Franch and ‘Spanish. eee original articles ara published in English. In addition roports of eerhnleal progress in the sugar industry as well as analyses of the world tegar economy and comprehensive abstracts of pacer’ from many Suda oeyale trom all over the world aro ragularly published. crmmont in Gulde othe ierturoatheSuseringutt/byM. Shalt (lealo 1962) ‘nw aitschet 1» « “nuat” for anyone connected wih sugar technology rublaned monthly ~ -Aneuat suberipton prea: ON O2+~(porage nel ample coplae wil bo sent free of charga on roqueat BY Verlag Dr. ALBERT BARTENS D-1000 BERLIN 38, LUCKHOFFSTR. 16 GUIDE TO THE LITERATURE OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY dan annotated bibigraphical gue 1 literature on sugar and jis manufacture from Dect and cane by M, Schalic Gu x 9", vii + 185 pages, Febeuary 1970, Dil. 27.50, ea. $8.50, ISBN 0-444-408-39-8 st compiled to aid che newcomer and This guide to the literatuce dhe more experienced practioner in the sugae induatey in his efor ro find more information - and to find it more easily r Te minimizes the efloe necessity £0 locate information and literature 09 cane, aswell as beet sugat, and the sugar iaduscry ia general. Elsevier P,0.Box 211 Volume 5 pau SUGAR TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS \ 972) | 1 SUGAR TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS Editors G. H. Jenkins (Brisbane, Australia) R. A. McGinnis (San Francisco, U.S.A.) Volume 2 (1972) ELSEVIER PUBLISHING COMPANY, AMSTERDAM TECHNOLOGY OF PHOSFLOT SI YE SUGAR MELT ho SRAM + se | = Introduction. 2 1 Historical survey U1 Subsidation. Pasethons Flotation. § 1 plphatation process: ¥ tiv elaifiens. 7 ivarnon meted 7 2 Wilhamgon eee. subs ela. 8 PE FiMey=Danton ¢ ofioido.9 34 Mutleelletritcr, 10 2G Somimaty, 13 3 ust) of leita 1 Hatvooct m1 2 Function of ghsfostion. 48 Cobsitreticeshet 3.3.3 Seountaty 9 33g Removal ofush. 16 5 Sucrose vers tive qutty. 16, 2 Rate of p eratien of lguer.3 $Tineeduction. 2 42 Alcsolubi 53 Nirah Sy Aitislids ratio. £8 Design af veration sein. 25, 6 Phosphate rloceultion. 28 61 Gunerale 28 46:3 Phosphoric aid! 65 Adaltion of fee 6 Blending intensity. ‘8S Effect of G6 Floe seeding, 32 6.3 Secondary precipitation. 33 Gs ect of pH. 33 £3 Flaeciltion 9st Secu Teeth fen TEE 7 Flototion of ongulum. 38 7:1 General. 38) 7.2 Flotation velecity. 40 7.3 lest of ir/soids ratio. 41 714 Compression of scum. 43 8 Design of fotation eel. 44 1 General 43 8:2 Unitaren, 4s B.A Depth ofcel. 8 1.4 Shape of cell and feed entry, 48 ¥ Clarification factors and contol, $1 951 General $1 5.2 Claitcation properties of raw suzars, 52 5.3 Proportion of phoxpiate 33 9.4 Eftect of Bris and temperature, 55, 9.5 Eftect of pH. 56 10 Clarification station, $8 TO. Introduction, 38 102 Unit operations, $8 10.2.1 Melting. 38 102.2 Sercening. 59 10.2'3 Aeration, 39 10.2.4 Addition of defecants. 60 1032:3 Floceulaton, 60 10.26 Flovation. 61 102.7 De-reration, 61 10.2.8 Treatment of scums.61 10.3 Auiliary equipment. 61 11 Recovery of sugar from scum. 63 Hal General. 63 1122 Fatrtion, 63, 113 Brecoat rotary filters, 65 114 Secondary Notation, 6 1155 Ceatifusing 6 ‘Acknowledgements,2 ‘Surnmary. 68 (in Spanish, 70) References, 70 INTRODUCTION Phosphate flocculum has been used for clarification of sugar melt since the middle of the last century. The technique of flocculum separation in the first jastance was by subsidation. This technique eventually gave way to low pressure bag filtration, The latter method has now been completely displaced by flotation, ‘The process and equipment of the phosphatation-flotation, conveniently termed by the author “phosflotation”, was invented and first pract George Williamson in Colonisl-Gramercy Refinery in 1919. Since then the Sugar Techiot Ret.2 1972 1-72 | | | | aysem fas boon slowly ut ste, esing seep boy sugar refi Pay it has the status of one of the {wo major jeal methods, th tein carbonation, for clrifiation of refinery melice N01 eer iterature on the aystem is very scarce and hardly any of it is of a technical nature, 1 is mostly an expression of opinions On the comparative ter and shortcomings of the phosphate-reated liquors There is no store ier nical data on the prosess and on design enterla for Tovten clarifiers eeu be sought by a technologist for optimization of the syste" tops ant review appents (9 be a pioneering effort in this enecite 4°) or sumge technology. [tis thus inevitable tha the subject mater ‘be incom Biete and lacking n'a umber of respects. By necessi¥. considerable portion Pete Mgehnical data fas draw from the author's research nd development or rried out at the Millaquin Refinery in the, petiod from 1956 to 1969. Though some of this data has been previously published i sugar journals, most Tete jew and updated. Furthermore, it is presented in A corcise form and ged In a manner tobe useful to technologists searching 9 achieve improve anaes the operating techniques of existing installations and in the design of new systems ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “The author wishes to express a debt of gratitude to Earl W, Dali, formerly General Manager of the Millaguin Sugar Company and well-known sugar cenerlst for generous guidance and encouragement during his studies on teanmeocess, Special appreciation is expressed to Clyde )- ‘Alan for his 60> operation and valuable contributions t9 the successful solution of many ghgineering problems during the development work rie ve algo expressed to George L. Wighiman, Ronald N, Jones and ther members of chemical and engineering staff of the Milaanin Refinery for iufatanee in the course of the research project and particularly during the trials of new equipment. “Te author is pleased to have this opportunity of thanking mary SY technelopists in Australia and from far corners of the world who hive Skee techy. years supplied him with technical literature as well as genero% advice many gestions {rom theit own experience. Without this penerosit) 0” the part ar sng neithe the research work nor the review would have been possible 1, MSTORICAL, SURVEY OF THE PHOSPHATATION PROCESS Use of foceulent preepitates for asrption and subsequent remova) fine festing impurities from sugar solutions has been practised for Te early recinning of the sugar indusity. Bullock’s blood was one ef he first knows beginnings > receive wide applieatio. The clarifying properties of phosPhtes ao ererpenized in the first fall of the nineteenth century. Phosphalss Ye Were ad into cane sugar factories #3 an aid to juice clarification, Addition Sugar Technol, Reb..2 972) 1-72 or soluble phosphates is widely practised fo this day fo treat refractory and phosphate-deficient eane juices. Tn the 1850's, phosphates were introduced into sugar refinery practices. where they gradually replaced! the use of bullock's blood towards the end of the cutury: Ta the period of over one hundred years that phosphates have been uscd in clarification of the refinery melters, the methods of defecation. separation of flog, and the design of the awsociated equipment have undergone nvany changes 1d Subsidation In the enrly days of the phosphatation process the practice was to intro duce a quantity of acid-treated char paste into the melter liquor, which was hekt in the “blow-up” tanks at about 80°C, When the paste was mixed int Feauired quantity of fimo was added. The defeested liquor was gently steed for a period to Form vistally acceptable Noccules of precipitate, which occluded the fine suspenssids and adsorbed some colour, ‘The raw sugars in those days wise of relatively low pol and a considerable quantity of defecants was vequired. The precipitate was allowed to subside, The supernatant liquor went to sugar boiling process whereas the muds were diluted and resubsided to recover the sugar. “the process no doubt represented an important step forward in the refinery practices compared to the use of bullock’s blood. There were, how: Gver, many problents. Relatively lurge liquor-holding capacities for subsidation vere required. The rates of subsidation were slow and the mud losses were high 1.2 Filtration Gravity filtration of the defecated metter liquor using Taylor bag fil was introduced into the refinery practices towards the beginning of this Century. Separation of the precipitate by filtration was a significant improve- scant over the subsidation. It meant better overall sugar recovery, duc to use of the higher Brix holding time for the liquors in this process as compared reduction in thermal, microbial and mud losses, be | level of and short with subsidation. Big filtration gave significant impetus to the use of phosphates and the process of phosphatation bag filtration became a majorand universally accentclt Suvification process. ‘The general practice of the process was to add acid {rented char paste to the melter liquor contained in “blow-up” tanks at about 80°C. After a period of gentle stirring and when the operator thought that 9 Suitable precipitate was formed, the liquor was gravity fed to the filter, which wa Consisted of a row of bags attached at the upper end to feed manifold pipes. “The bags were enclosed ina large.tank In spite of its Phosphate floc bei clitive advantages, the process had many vith elatinous nature is extremely difficult to il near Terloml, Rees? W972) 1 2 ent a ee PHOSTLOFATION OF SUGAR MELT 5 consequently the process required extensive filter aren ge Want al labour for come getting up and ain of the bas afer cael eye Uh itso needed swasttant supervision during the uetual filtration for spurte ‘af the bags. Cycles coe generally short and a considerable proportion of the residutal liquor from Merb and the sweet water had tobe returned to the “blown inks aa aocess, however, was retained by most eefiners until ANS and in sone cnses until the 1930's, Two developments ofthe Gly 1y20'shad been Ionsble forthe abandonment of the process, The fr the availability Of good quality and reasonably prigad lotomite Hey powders. The second development was a remarkable mpeWement in the refining quulitics of the aeappars, The raws ha higher po, less impurities aru! colour Fo reimes aun they were, asa rute, of good filtering quality. wrerey developments favoured replaccarent of phosphatation TH/ati by diatomite filtration using Kelly. Sweetland. Vatlez and oulet pent filters eiatomiee Meaion offered! simplicity of operation better susan (e6o¥SrY andl Tower labauir costs. 1.3 Flotation Diatomite preswue flrtion provided a simple and cheap procens, 6 was purely mechanical i its separation of the impurities, WP go quality wa Pe ave a brilliantly clea filtrate, but itl oF no cate reno Cone ro Fa Bae of a chemical elifeation using phospatation, Hence, Ue with ne Feontnuing endeavour among the refiners to divcaver cans |e ha ect taking advantage of the excellent clarifying, qualities of the phosphates sahates eared out extensive studies starting frm 1912 at Graverey Refinery on separation of phosphate floe from meter Tijior He discovered! Refine ted and ait-imprognted liquor on heating ould Noa he pects to the surface leaving clear liquor under the falhr ic subsequently designed toe tented in 1918 a continuous clavier, known asthe Willison cae fier. aan clarifier unit ys installed at he Gramercy Refinery in 1019" Aste Willamson process, the liquor while contained in the "Powe tania ic uosed with phosphoric acid and milk of me. When a suable hee ta ie ecated liquor fs Fed to ain aerator and then wo the lai wi. 19 formes fer the phosphate floc Moats to the surface with the ait of Met the rafine Nonted foci removed as sums from the surface, while he lea savor is withdrawn as an underllow, Seums ace itered to recover the Ss eeensesss bas thus the advantages. of phosphatationremovel ¢f collodnt matter and colour—without the disadvantages of bag Gaon, cost appear that the refiners should have weleomed the process. HOWEYET: aosanrnot the case. The refiners were getting reusonale performace such wie intomite fitraion and. the diffcuties of nhosphatation- Pe {rom jon -were sil fresh in their minds, They exhivited Title interest inthe now process. ‘Sngor Teele, Ret.2 (1972) 1-72 LELEETE 6 A SAHANT ti was not until the 1940's that interest in the use of phosphates WO revived once again. The main reasons for revival wers the chavs in he refininis Gunite of the rave sugars and the publication of 8 set of research papers aurrrrming the effectivencss of phosphatation for removal of colloids and Tigur. During this period new varieties of cane wert introduced, crush- ing rates were intensified and refractory juices eve clarification problems. ing ras ting. raws were more dificult to clrify by simple mechanical Altration. Mio gu by Cummins® and Franken? shosse! that phosphatss: &¥°7 iminate amount, may be beneficially used in conjunetion with davon fitra rnin eve findings were rdopted by some refiners. Thoukh the 28d of phosphates Improved claiflation, the filtration ates, ever when coarser grades of diatomite were used, were generally low, diatomite consumption as high and the net result was uneconomic operation. the Williamson process, on the other hand, offered excellent clarification as wells other advantages, but it also had its problems and ‘was slow to receive ae Zeptance. Acconling to Meade’, the history of accentanee of the Williamso seseess may be divided into thecedistinet phases. The fst ANE As the early Ppetimentation by Williamson with phosphatation and H's ‘attempts £0 a°0USS ore n the process. The secon! phase was from the installa of the first plant scale clarifier to the end of World Wa It and a marked by reluctance raat uaight rejection of the process by the refiners. The third piee after the a ait peen marked by steady acceptance of the process. DUNNE this phase ihtad to compete agtinst carbonatation, which is another chemical process taved on dosage of the liquor with lime and carbon dioxids followed by pres- based ation. This, process has in recent decades gained pontariy TS the sure Commonwealth counties, particularly among the larger eft corrance of the Williamson process was brought about by ihe changes in the aualty of raws, as mentioned above, and also by improvement the in aerecaesign and by the introduction of instrumentation. There as MY eGhanieal modifications made to the original Williamson design Develop ara utomation pH, density and temperature controls Nave Bech of saemtderable benefit in removing some of the difficulties from the process “The history of phosphatation for clarification of refinery lavors Ty be summarized as follows. The advantages of phosphatation were recognized in he wery early days of sugar refining, but it was slow {0 rereiee acceptance ae wary or the difficulties of floc separation. Subsidation, the only SY able pecthod for the fist ity years, had many drawbacks. Bag Aliraten see good re feation, but became uniceonomic duc to excessive labour coms. Flotation sree ll the advantages of phosphatation but it also had some hnical ofertas, Furthetmore, right from the day of its birth it had fo compete recs, ather well-established methods —diatomite filtration an} cearbonata- aera went developments in phosphatation and flotation terhn'are” anc hurler design have distinetly placed the process in a position ‘of comparative advantage. Suu Technol Reta? (1972) 1-72 post OrATION OF SUGAR MELT 2, FLOTATION CLARIFIERS 2 Williamson methiod “The phosphoric acid-lime defecation depends upon the fact that when the acid und line are brought together in a sugnr solution under the correct cond Mei a foceulent or sponge-like precipitate is formed, The natural tendency | forthe precipitate to setle gradually tthe bottom, If, however, its devised {or tach a bubble or bubbles of air to cich Noccule and then heat the whole 10 ec the bubbles will expand. their lifting power will increase. the viscosity dag will decrease, and the floccutes will rise tothe top. During the flocculation sin the course of rising through the liquor the floscules collect most of the an uspended impurities in the sotution. tmpuritics such as gums, waxes, Fine particles of dirt and collotds, together with colour bodies and ash constivvents, ettgwept from the liquor and appear atthe surface as scums, In this manner 9 arthur complete separation of the precipitate and impurities is obtained without resorting to subsidation oF filtration. ind is the basis of the phosflottion process. In Williamson's version of i the melter liquor at 60°C is dosed with phosphoric acid, lime and aie. Its then pumped through a clarifier where itis gradually heated to 99°C. The heating iuces congulation of the phosphate, precipitation of air and formation of lange fceules, whieh float tothe surface. The scums are skimmed off from the ‘of the liquor while the clear liquor is withdrawn at the bottom of 2.2 Williamson clarifier ‘The original Williamson clarifier consisted of a shallow rectangular cast iron vessel with a horizontal bottom. It was 12 ft long, 6 ft. wide and 20 in. “Toop. It was fitted with transverse heating pipes and low set bales. The tank Togutner with the aerator fittings is shown in Fig. 1. A small rotating roll was ‘eaeinted on the inict edge of the tank. Scums adhering to this roll were removed bya seraper. Atte bottom of the outlet end ofthe tank a collecting pipe header a — wo Se LL lao Fig. L. Original Wiliamyon clarifier Sugar Teel Retin? (97D) 1 8 A. SAHANIN was fitted for withdrawal of the cared liquor. ‘The heating tubes near the Tey mn of the clarifier terminated in a steam chest and condensate collector the outlet end ofthe tank, Tranwverse baffle partitions submerged in the lo? vrere designed to induce the scums to rise, The rated eapueity of the chiriier was of the order of 1000 U.S, gal per hour. ot method of ampregnating the liquor with air consisted of small tanks contaiing jet nozzles. through which compressed air was blown into ihe Tanor om ils passage than the low-up tanks to the cries. This wits Het defied to ump the Hiquor at nbout 120 p..i.g. through « number of wazzics Aired in the form of an injector so that the delivery stream of Kiquor sucks Hit from the atmosphere. Another method of eration fuid been 10 inject ai 19 Ue ye de ofthe centrifugal pump handling the liquor. The main objective of rE neratign devices isto achieve the hichest possible concentration of very fine ie bubbles in the liquor. This is necessary in orier to promote good contact eween the Moceules and the air. Agcording to Meale™, the original elariler though somewhat movificd now is still iw oper al-Gramercy Refinery. The Williamson system was alopted iv a numb refineries, Improvements were made to the original ap during the life of the patent to overcome some of the h cident during operations. According to Greven’, the shortcomings 0 ihe Syatem were the delicacy ane! senstiveness to the changes in dually of Ss aan Tong residence tine, high operating temperatures (esing fo boca over heating and inversion losses) and inefficient seum removal "After expiration of the patent a number of movifiations were introxscrd to the clarifier, Among these were the rearrangement of heating coils (Hidson tlesign), modifications to the scum removal rolts (Kent design) and subst seieing coils by jacketed bottom. Improvements in aeration were sso introduced. jn at the Colo of the North American satus and the process eas which became 2.4 Jacobs clarifier “The fi 1936 by Jacobs, Munson and Dalberg’. This design became known is the Jacobs clarifier and is shown in Fig. 2. The flotation tank is divided lengthwise into six U-shaped troughs about 30 in, deep at the inlet end and about 10 in. st ihe outlet end. At the top the troughs form a common surface. High heat ae oes intensity was obtained by using the trough walls and the bottom fr feat transmission and thus providing for about four times the thermal capacity te the unit, as" compared with the earlier types of clarificrs. It was fitted wi" crane drag running the length of the clarifier and arranged to discharge at 11° dear ana The aeration ofthe liquor was effected by a centrifugal pump specially modified for this purpose. “The operating temperature was in the range of 97-99°C and the throughPt vour per unit, ‘The clatificr, owing to the improvements 1 significant departure from the Williamson desi HE PHOSPLOTATION OF SUGAW MEET 9 onter pa ali Conaeraa ig. 2, Jacobs clair. in thermal capacity and ease of control, gained some popularity among the North American refiners and a few units were installed, some in recent years “The main drawbacks of the clarifier ure high temperature of operation and low throughput, and a refinery of an average size requires a great number of units requiring costly outlay for instrumentation and floor area per unit of output ‘This makes it uneconomic for larger sized refineries, 2.4 Bulkley-Dunton Colloidair This is also known ay the Svecn-Pederson clarifier. ‘The outstand feature of the clarifier iy that it introduced the principle of “dissolved air” into the phosphatation process, ‘The “dissolved air” principle had, of course, been used extensively in other industries particularly in treatment of industrial waste. The Colloidair was in fact designed for treatment of industrial waste. The distinctive characteristics of the clarifier are (1) provision for pres sucization of liquor-aie mixture and (2) considerably deeper Notation tank than cither Williamson or Jacobs. Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic sketch of the Colloidair. The Notation tank is of rectangular shape. Attached to the tank are the liquor inlet and outlet compartments and also the scums trough on the end opposite to liquor entry, Flight scrapers are fitted over the flotation tank for scrapinig the scums. The equipment includes i three-st trifaysal pump and pressurization tank. Clones liquor outta Fig. 3, Colloids (tkley-Duntom clarifier, Sir Vea, ee.2 1972) | 10 AL MSAK In operation, the liquor is dosed with defecants, aerated, and pressurized at about 80 ps.ig. for a few minutes. After pressurization, the liquor enirs the flotation tank, where the air is released from solution and flotation takes place. “rhe first Colloidair for refinery work was installed at Crockett Refinery in 1952 and this was soon followed by instalation of «slightly larger unit in We Colonial-Gramerey Refinery. The former unit after considerable modification fra operated for a number of years. while the Intter ane was discarded aie & year of tials, Within the next eight years additional units of Colloulrs were Jnstalled in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia and Inia Ntodel $0 ofthe clarifier is 8 long, 4(. 6 in, wide and 4 (6 in, deep, Kis rated is 3000 U.S. gal per hour, operating at 82°C. In spite of a aurtber Of attractive features in the design, the clarifier’s performance in all cases W Sy distppeiting. In some cases it was discarded after a series of tile Wh le Hee eeaemer it had tobe substantially modified to make it operational, Meade" referred to the unit xs an “extremely frustrating piece of equipment” bees verte unpredictable behaviour and lick of operational reliabiity and Mexibthy ‘Comparative performance data on the Colleidair and the Jacobs clan fer published by Patterson and Zemanek” showed considerably better claritea" Uiicieney of the latter in all respects. Neatly all reports on the performance & se eriigidair make reference {0 the diicultis of obtaining good quality Noe find algo to the extremely high sensitivity to changes in temperature, deny ig the level of defecants added, It appears to have a very Tow threshold (0 these parameters. Hee author's experience with the Colloidait" has been such as to confirm the difficulties experienced and described by the other refiners. In the course Orta! tests extending over a number of months, a clear liquor was obtained on or few occasions only. Most of the time the process was adversely affected through smal fluctuations in one or more of the following parameters: temper are eeasity and proportion of defecants. Reaction of floceutation was usually Liner the floc wat not stable and secondary flocculation inevitably occurred Iwis obvious that there were some deficiencies in the flocculation process as well as undesirable mechanical features in the flotation tank proper: This Colloidair unit was subsequently completely modified and a number of additional features were added. Among these were arrangements for Pro gressively mixing the defecants, addition of a “reaction chamber", inereist Srvstion area and provision of internal heating elements. ‘The modified unit performed with a reasonable level of efficiency for a number of years, 2.5 Multicell clarifier ‘The clarifier wns designed as a result of research and developmental work into the phosfiotation process carried out at Millaquin Refinery, Queensland, ‘Turing the period 1956-1965. The work included investigations of the © Gperations-aeration, flocculation and flotation—associated with the proses Sor Teetnil, Ree.2 1972) =72 An MELT 1 pHOSELOTATION OF SU erations, The clarifie and also clarifier design assessment on pilot reale o also known as the Saranin Multicell, ‘The first commercial scale cl at the above refinery in 1967. Ot refined and liquid sugars have since been matic arrangement of the Multicell. The clarifier is a cylindric ifier, 7 ft. diam, and 9 ft, high, was installed er units for production of both granular alled. Figure 4 shows a diagram tank divided ==] ig. 4, Multicll Saranin) carr (Fletcher und Stewart Lt). into three cells. The top and the middle are the flotation cells, the bottom one is, the de-aeration cell, The dimensions of the tank and the number of flotation cells may be varied to suit the throughput desired. A single unit may be Uesigned to treat a whole output of a large refinery. The reaction chamber is unver the bottom cell, Cells are designed fo operate independently and each is quipped with liquor feed ring, liquor draw-off pipes. scum run-off channels and sampling pipes. Flotation cells opcrate in parallel to each other and in series with the de- aeration cell, Feed liquor from the reaction chamber enters the top and the middle cells where flotation of congulum takes place. Clear liquor drawn from these two cells passes through an external heat exchanger and enters the hottom or de-aeration cell from which, without further treatment. it passes on Sugar Technol Ree..2 0972 tothe neat stage ofthe refining eperations, Flotation iy caged ut at 3°C 3 Geeacration at 95°C. the melter liquor being at 65" Brin, The seus, GoW ott from all cells. usual methods. “The clarfice has « number of novel constructional and operating features compared with rectangular or U-shaped designs. These are ay follows (1) High throughpat capacity por elarifier and per unit floor {2} Mulicellular arrangement allows for provision of adequate Mouation wit collected in a common receiver and then de-sugared by U an (3) “Feed layer" design for liquor entry {@) Provision of scum “compression chambers” and scurts collection scrapers. rhe associated process is based on the Williamson principles of dosages ¢ the quot with phosphoric acid and fine and followed by aeration and forstion Of the cougulum. However, there are new refinements, These are (1) Bloc seeding to insure good Hovculation, (2) Dual anil relatively low operating temperatures see Multicell flotation system will be discussed in further detail ia Section 8, Development work on aid description of the Multicel! was published by the author in 1969" and the performance results after (wo years of operation were published in 1970" 2.6 Summary In the half-century since Williamson installed the first frothing clarifier for phosflotation of melts iquor only three other tyres of clarifies have Dect Thggested. Jacobs’ modifiation of the Williamson was essentially on inerene see healing surtuee, This brought about slight inerease in the throughowt ste clarifier has been fairly well aecepted, Colloidair introduced a new fealtre Fe ery flotation ~the principle of “dissolved air” —but it was not designed te handling melter liquors and has received only very limited acceptance 19 ‘Gipar industry, The Mullcel introduced new concepts in arrangement of the flotation cells and improvements in the process itsel. ‘The comparative throughput capacities of the respective clariiors, 3 assessed from published data and the author's experience (with Colloidair and Multicell) arc as Follows: Capacity. ew. filh Pers St Holding time Clarifier ype fiooraven — Perit (ia) Witlamson 16 112 38 Jacobs 16 ‘ 0 Colloitsir Model M3072 240 0 ‘mouifed) Maiti nxn) 10 600) 0 Rev. 2(1972) 1-3 oe JOSFLOTATION OF SUGAR MELT 13 3. QUALITY OF CLARIFIED LIQUOR 3.1 Introduction Ever since the first clarified liquor was produced by the phosfotation process atthe Gramercy refinery the visu! quality of the Faure physical proc themiea! nature have been a subject of evahiatory discussions amon ‘he aepers, resultingin controversy and often ia expression of conflicting vnini ny Giious papers have been written on the comparative qualities af the plow ratation liquor, its physical appearance and its behuviour charsctcr/sHss 18 the subsequent treatments leading to granular sugar, ‘Opinions have Mictuated from enthusiastic acceptance to complete Flee tion, Some refiners were quick to recognize the quality and comparative advar tage of the Motation while others have been reluctant and slow in giving ** Teue ptanee, There are refiners who. though they recognize some, snecifc fdvantages of phosflotation, prefer to stay with earbonatation “The reasons for the protructed evalvatary debate may lie in the funds mental and inherent difference that exists between phosflotation and the (wo Gther processes —curbonatation and diatomite filtration, This difference is that flotation, unlike diatomite filtration or carbonatation fitemion, has no element of positive separation of the insoluble solids. 1 Ateation ofthe liquor, if the iquor passes through filter cake. iti free of solids veinvgertnin size oF it does not pass through, In flotation the liquor passes Ghrough a elatiier Irrespective of whether complete or nil separation of oagulum is obtained. This is the disadvantage of flotation lacks postive Separation, but it has more than compensating advantages. Being based oF Seeorption it is capable of separating a greater variety and particle size Tanke or insoluble solids than is possible by filtration. The absorbed suspensoids are setuined in the floceules until the coagulum leaves the liquor, thus ensuring the Guality of impurities removal. It also allows for continuous operation I, js possible to run a flotation process with a wide range of congulum separation and to obtain clarified liquor ranging in quality from very poor «¢ seajient, When complete flotation is achieved, the quality of the liquor is. and Tesgs, superior to that of liquors clarified by other processes. However, if Arontion is incomplete the liquor not only looks bad but is poor in quality and heeds to be filtered before it becomes acceptable for the char treatment. peewee cannot help thinking that only few phosphatation-flotation systems attain complete coagulum flotation, though there is no doubt that such flotation fe attainable ina well-designed installation. This view is supported by the following considerations. Most practitioners of the process admit. having witnessed production of both excellent and poor liquors from a given installa Yon, A survey of the literature shows that there is no store of technical eriterin tipon which sound design of a clarifier system coud be based, In many instaitoe tions the liquor has to be filtered before chae treatment, Furthermore. in the iMthor’s opinion nearly all existing clarifiers are so desperately under-provided Sugar Teele Reta? AID) I~ EGE pnosrLoratiON OF SUGAIL MELT 3. QUALITY OF CLARIFIED LIQUOK $l Introduction Ever since the first clarified liquor was produced by the phosflotation process at the Gramercy refinery. the visual quality of the liquor its physical rd chemical nature have been a subject of evaluatory discussions among the aners, resulting in controversy ans! often in expression of conflicting opinions Various papers have been written on the comparative qualities of the phos phatation liquor, its physical appearance and its behaviour characteristics in the subsequent treatments leading to granular sugar, ‘Opinions have fluctuated from enthusiastic acceptance to complete rejec~ tion. Some refiners were quick to recognize the quality and comparative advan tage of the flotation while others have been reluctant and stow in giving it Heceptance, There are refiners who, though they recognize some specific idvantages of phosflotation, prefer to stay with curbonatation, The reasons for the protracted evaliatory debate may lic in the funds- mental and inherent difference that exists between phosflotation and the (wo ther processes — carbonatation and diatomite filtration ‘This difference is that flotation, unlike diatomite filtration or carbonatation fitration, has no element of positive separation of the insoluble solids. tn filtration of the liquor, ifthe liquor passes through filter cake, itis free of solids Of a certain size of it does not pass through. In flotation the liquor passes through. a clarifier irrespective of whether complete or nil separation of Ccougulum is obtained. This is the disadvantage of flotation —it lacks positive Separation, but it has more than compensating advantages. Being based on Aikorption it is capable of sepurating a greater variety and particle size range of insoluble solids than is possible by filtration, The absorbed suspensoids are retained in the Noccules until the coagulum leaves the liquor, thus ensuring the quality of impurities removal. It also allows for continuous operation. Te is possible to run a flotation process with a wide range of congulum separation and to obtain clarified liquor ranging in quality from very poor to Sxzelient, When complete flotation is achieved, the quality of the liquor is, and fooks, superior to that of liquors clarified by other processes. However, if fotation is incomplete the liquor not only looks bad but is poor in quality and needs to be filtered before it becomes acceptable for the char treatment. One cunnot help thinking that only few phosphatation-fotation systems attain complete coagulum flotation, though there is no doubt that such flotation is attainable in a well-designed installation. This view is supported by the following considerations. Most practitioners of the process admit having witnessed production of both excellent and poor liquors from a given installa Vion A survey of the literature shows that there is no store of technical criter upon which sound design ofa clarifier system could be based. In many insta tions the liquor has to be filtered before char treatment, Furthermore, in the futhor’s opinion nearly all existing clarifiers are so desperately under-provided Sur Fecha: Ret. WIT) IT ry Ac SAWANINE Notation for in flotation unit area that they cannot possibly achieve conn fori ently, Undsr sueh conditions one cannot expect results which are both predictable and vniformly good. Mee View of the fact that the quality of the phosphated [iauor Vane’ wide range from refinery to refinery and even from day to day Win S refinery, The guality comparison with fiquors from other processes ccd 0b approached. dase acsmtigerable caution. This chapter aims to present the consensus of Fublished opinion on phostlotation fiquor and its earparative de alities. 3.2 Function of phosflatation iter liquor to “The process of phusflotation consists of screening the m separa fhe coane suspensoids and then dosing he Hguer with mhospht sep lime suernt, The resultant precipitate, ter occlusion and abso1r' ee ae ae ie penslds, colloids and colouring mater is floated with the of or ecbles enmeshed in the Moccules, The quantity of phosphors Heit added ai areal according to the quality of raws melted and the degree oF lace Tetdied. Lime sucrate fs added (9 ahieve a desired pH Tevel inthe rifled liquor. OF process has (wo distinct steps phosphate floscutaton und ait Not ion, The objective of the fist ix to form a floccule that would oeclue Ane tom eve eeatet possible proportion of the impurities present The 37 °f toate utep isto uchieve complete Notation of the Roceules formed QArs Ae er mtep The final result depends on the successful outcome of both oper teas, Deficrency in either one of them wil result in poor clarification ‘rt wechnologists accept the view that phosphate floc is_an_efeetitt mest of femovi.of suspensoids, colloids and dissobued

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