Sucropedia.com - Diffusion - Cane

By Bento, Luis San Miguel
Posted on 2006-11-06    Last edited on 2009-09-23
http://sucropedia.com/entries/E0044


In the last decades the utilization of cane diffusion to replace the potent roller mills has occurred in different part of the world. The reasons of this change are related with a lower investment, low energetic consumption and low maintenance, in comparison with mills.

There are two diffusers type: cane diffusion, using de-fibrated cane; and bagasse diffuser, where one roller mill exists before the diffuser (Rein, 1998). Inside the diffuser, cane is contacted with hot water in counter current way, for sucrose extraction. Bagasse at the end of the diffuser, pass by a roller mill for water extraction.
Juice obtained with this extraction system presents a higher colour than the one obtained by milling. Probably enzymatic browning reactions during diffusion produce more colourants, due to the longer time in the extraction process.

Bibliography

Bulk W. D., 1965, South Africa’s first milling diffusion factory, Proc. S.Afr. Sugar Technol. Ass., 39:114-121 FitzGerald J.G., J.P. Lamusse, 1974, Diffusion in South Africa, Proc. of I.S.S.C.T., 15:1486-1498
Lamusse J.P., 1971, The boiling house losses of SA diffusion factories, Proc. S.Afr. Sugar Technol. Ass., 45:
61-71
Lionnet G.R.E., 1985, Preliminary study on extraction of some impurities from cane diffusion, Proc. S.Afr.
Sugar Technol. Ass.,
59: 92-95
Mackrory, Cazalet, I.A. Smith, 1984, A comparison of of the microbiological activity associated with milling
and cane diffusion, Proc. of I.S.S.C.T., 58: 86-89
Meadows D., G. Schumann, C. Soji, 1998, Farewell to filters: the recycle of clarifier muds to the diffuser,
Proc. S.Afr. Sugar Technol. Ass., 72: 198-203
Rein P. W., 1970, The interdependence of cane preparation, particle size, displace ability and liquid hold-
up in fixed bed diffusers, Proc. S.Afr. Sugar Technol. Ass, 44: 64-70
Rein P. W. 1974, Prediction of the extraction performance of a diffuser using a mathematical model, Proc.
of I.S.S.C.T.
, 15: 1523-1537
Rein P.W., 1998, Cane Diffusers, Section 6.3.4 in Sugar Technology, Poel P.W., H. Schiweck, T. Schwartz
Pub. Verlag Dr. Albert Bartens, Berlin, 374-381
Rein P. W., 1999, A review of cane diffusion in SA mills. I.S.J., 101, 1204E: 192-196; 232-234
Rein P.W., 2007, Cane Diffusion, in Cane Sugar Engineering, Verlag Dr. Albert Bartens KG, Berlin, Cap. 6,
149-173
Renton R.H., C. B. van der Riet, 1971, The EM diffuser installation, Proc. S.Afr. Sugar Technol. Ass, 45: 49-
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