Objetivo
To save energy used for beet pulp drying in sugar factories, by substituting improved pressing for part of thermal drying. Chemical linking by calcium atoms of pectic molecules of beet cell walls improves their strength and allows pressing up to 45% DM compared to conventional 26% reducing need for thermal drying which is far less energy efficient than pressing dewatering. Also more substances are kept in the beet cells, which increase marketable weight of pulp and ease purification of beet juice. For 8000 t/d processed beets, energy saving will be 4106 TOE/y. This project concerns a rotative diffusion instead of OE Smet as in the former project EE/409/88.
The first test will be made in September 1993.
The cossettes treated with mono-saccharate solution fix the calcium ions, one part on acid radicals and one part by ion exchange with monovalents cations, mainly potassium cations. The calcium cations realize calcium bridges between the galacturonics chains, so that even if glucosidics binds are broken, a new structure of polymer is established. The calcium realizes a covalent bind with high energy, so that this bind is not destroyed when the cossettes are heated by the diffusion.
It becomes then possible to use a calcic alkaline water as a liquid for sugar extraction permetting to maintain all the diffusor long an alkaline pH value, quite constant as a constant calcium concentration.
Mainly, this process need :
1. The patent equipment to make the soluble calcium mono-saccharate salt (grinders, reactors...)
2. The specific ion exchanger (3x22 m)
3. The modification of the pressing equipment to increase the dry matter contact in pulp up to 45%, value that had been obtained on the pilot plant.
Programa(s)
Tema(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Data not availableRégimen de financiación
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinador
45490 CORBEILLES-EN-GATINAIS
Francia