FORTIETH CONFERENCE

ASH PER CENT IMPURITY IN RAW SUGAR

By L. J. FINGER and G. E. MITCHELL,
Fairymead Mill,Bundaberg Sugar Company Limited, Bundaberg
Abstract

The relationship between 7; p01 and ash "/:, impurity of raw sugar
is illustrated by regression analyses on production for five years at Fairymead. The process of reducing the level of ash % impurity in shipment
sugar by adding centrifuged "B" molasses is discussed. Analysis has
indicated however, that the ash % impurity of a centrifuged "B"
molasses is in fact higher than that predicted by the regression analysis
for a wash-syrup removed from the crystal. Wide variation in ash %
impurity is known to exist and, therefore, the analysis would only apply
to the particular mill area.
Relationship between Ash % Impurity and Polarization
A relationship was noted by Chen (1967). He pointed out that, while
washing a sugar to a higher polarization did reduce the ash level in the
sugar, the ash % impurity level increased. This phenomenon may be
due to the composition of included syrup which Powers (1970) considers
to differ significantly from the mother syrup. The analysis of Fairymead
high p01 "ration sugar" held for this purpose and raw sugar washed in
the laboratory centrifugal indicated a rise of ash % impurity with polarization. Such a rise would reduce any benefit gained by spraying "B"
molasses on a washed raw sugar of high polarization.
To obtain a reliable quantitative measure of this rise, a regression
analysis was made of analyses of Fairymead raw sugar for the years
1968 to 1972. The correlation of polarization and ash % impurity was
highly significant in all years. The equations for each year from the
regression analysis are listed in Table I and shown on Figure 1.
The variations in the equations for each year are probably dependent on seasonal conditions. In particular, the Reducing SugariAsh
ratio was very low for 1969 at 0.48 and high, by local standards, at
1.00 in 1970. The slope of the regression line appears greatest for low
Reducing Sugar/Ash ratio sugars.

3
TABLE I-Regression

Regression equation

- 2355.95
Y = 30.00X
16.08X
16.87X - 2925.5
1632.94
1552.49
Y = 24.52X - 2386.52

equations

Deterrninations

Y = 24.23X

1970
1971

1972

.S50
.404
.566

FORTIETH CONFERENCE

98.50

38-60 38.70 93-80 98.90 99.00 99-10 99.20 39.30 39.40 9950.
% DRY POL

Fig. I-Relationship

between

pol (dry basis) and ash

seasons 196% 1972.

impurity in raw sugar for

Centrifuged "B" Molasses

One possibility for reducing the level of ash % impurity is to add a
centrifuged molasses to high p01 washed sugar. The sludge removed
from molasses is rich in insoluble ash and the ash % impurity of the
mother syrup is reduced. The normal syrup film on raw sugar could be
replaced by this treated material. Samples of B molasses at various
per cent Brix were centrifuged, or allowed to settle for 24 hours. The
treated samples were then analysed and ash
impurity content compared with the control samples. The results are recorded in Table 11.
These results show that the removal of sludge has only a marginal effect
on the ash % impurity level of the B molasses. The effect may be due to
the high aconitic acid content of Fairymead molasses (Simpson & Deicke,
1961). This organic constituent forms a significant portion of the sludge
and reduces sludge ash % impurity.
Effects of Addition of Centrifuged Molasses
The level of ash % impurity in the added molasses must be lower
than that of the syrup removed from the crystal if any benefit is to be
gained.
The polarization of a shipment sugar is normally about 99.0 (dry
basis). For the purposes of the discussion it is assumed that this material
could be economically washed to 99.5 polarization (dry basis). If a further
assumption regarding the purity of the wash syrup is made, the ash %
impurity of this material may be calculated by a solids balance. The ash
% impurity of the washed sugar is predicted from the regression analysis.
A solids balance calculation assuming a wash syrup purity of 90
is shown in Appendix I for 1968 season sugar. The expected ash %

Year

Brix

Dv
Su bstance

Pol

Control

Ash

Ash
Imp.

TABLE Il-Ash

Dry
SUbstance
Pol

Settled

Ash

Ash

% Imp.

levels in B molasses at various Brixes

Dry
Substance

Pol

Ash

Cent rifuned
Ash

% Imp.

2 14

FORTIETH CONFERENCE

TABLE Ill-Calculated

Ash

Season

Ash
99.0 Pol

1968
I969

lmpurity in Wash Syrup

- (dry basis)

% Impurity

99.5 Pol
(dry basis)
54.9
59.5

Syrup
(wash)
3 1.7
3 1 .O

impurity of wash syrup for each of the five years tabulated is shown in
Table 111.
This relationship is very similar to that existing in centrifuged
"B" molasses. It would appear therefore that no reduction in levels of
ash % impurity in raw sugar will be achieved by this method.
The purity assumed for wash syrup has only a marginal effect
on the predicted ash % impurity of this material. The purity, however,
would have a substantial effect on the quantity of material to be recycled.
Conclusions
The increase in ash ";, impurity in raw sugar with polarization has
been demonstrated by statistical analysis. This factor limits improvement in ash % impurity which could be expected by the addition of
centrifuged molasses to a washed raw sugar.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the management of Fairymead Sugar
Company Limited for permission to publish this paper.
REFERENCES
Chen, J. C. P. (1967). Sulphated ash and total non sugars in Peruvian raw sugars, Sug. J .
30, 6, 9.
Powers, H. E. C. (1970). Sucrose crystals: Inclusions and structure. Sug. Technol. Reviews.
1
111
1, L, ILL.
1

Simpson, C. and Deicke, R. (1961). The Removal of insoluble impurities from "B" Molasses.
Proc. Qd. Soc. Sug. Cane Technol. Twenty-eighth Conf. 307.

Appendix I

Calculations of Ash 9, Impurity in Wash Syrup

Assume 100 tons of Fairymead sugar at normal analysis of (dry
basis) :
% Pol
..
..
99.000
% Ash
..
..
.428
% Other Imp . .
..
.572
..
. . 42.8
Ash % Imp
If this sugar is then washed to a polarization (dry) of 99.50, the
expected analysis will be
% Pol . .
..
..
99.500
% Ash
..
..
.275
% Other 1Ap . .
..
.225
..
. . 54.9 (from regression
Ash % Imp
analysis)

FORTIETH CONFERENCE

1973

2 15

Assuming that the wash is removed at 90 purity, a total of 5.263

tons of dry solids will be removed per 100 tons
99.50,
A 9.00
94.737 %

9.50
Hence the tonnage per 100 tons of each component can be found in
the wash syrup, and ash % impurity derived.
Tons per Original 100 tons
Original
Washed
Wash
sugar
sugar
syrup
..
99.000
94.263
4.737
Polarization . .
Ash
.. ..
..
.428
,261
.l67
Other Imp
.. ..
.572
.213
.359
Total

..

..

100.000

94.737

The predicted level of ash % impurity in the wash will be

5.263