SUGAR CANE

EXTRACTION
JANUARY 2019
Sugar cane stalks are harvested &
transported to the factory
1. SHREDDING
The stalks are cleaned and cut into
small pieces by rotating knives in the
shredder.
2. CRUSHING
The pieces of cane move to the crusher where
they are crushed as water is sprayed on them

This process produces cane juice and

bagasse. Bagasse is burnt to supply heat for
the boilers.
3. CLARIFICATION
Cane juice is acidic & contains impurities.

Juice is heated and calcium hydroxide added

to neutralize any acids and cause impurities to
precipitate out (converted into larger, insoluble
particles)
4. FILTRATION
Juice is filtered which separates it into clarified
juice and factory mud.

Factory mud returns to the fields where it is

used as fertilizer.
5. BOILING
Clarified juice goes through a series of
boilers so that it becomes more
concentrated & more saturated in
sugar.
6. CRYSTALLIZATION
Small grains of sugar (known as seeds) are
added to aid in the formation of sugar crystals.
The remaining syrup becomes thick and
viscous to form molasses.

The mixture of molasses and sugar crystals is

called massecuite.
7. CENTRIFUGATION
Massecuite is placed in a perforated basket
that spins at extremely high speed.

Molasses is forced out through the holes and

collected in the outer basket while the sugar
crystals remain in the inner basket.
8. COLLECTION
Damp sugar crystals are collected
& dried by being tumbled through
hot air.
VIDEO LINK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCKt02NGjfM