Cane and beet sugar milling and refining Brix measurements, supersaturation, sugar crystallization and seeding point control Edible sugar manufacturing is a delicate process that requires process control and instant, accurate Brix (massecuite solids content) measurement of raw and in-process liquids for best product quantity and quality, measured with for example mean aperture (MA) and coefficient of variation (CV). Only high-quality liquid and crystal sugars are acceptable. In crystal sugar manufacturing, the absolute goal is to produce the maximum amount of even quality crystals, avoiding fines and conglomerates.Efficient raw sugar processing to refined sugarSugar production involves two distinct operations: processing sugar cane or sugar beets into raw sugar and processing the raw sugar into refined sugar. As sugar refining is a highly energy-intensive process where raw juice is subjected to multiple processing steps to remove impurities, the right process control tools help to maximize yield and minimize the cost of production. Overall, the sugar industry is a large water consumer as each production step requires water. The water and energy consumption during manufacturing can be significantly reduced, contributing to mill's or refinery's sustainability, by using modern technology equipment, such as Vaisala Polaris™ process refractometer. Cover process conditions from liquid phase to massecuite Sugar crystallization is often the main production process, and mass-producing quality and constant sugar at a competitive price require robust measurement devices that are not affected by varying process conditions from the liquid phase to massecuite nor by increasing crystal content during a strike. Supersaturation is the driving force of crystal growth, and the speed of crystallization depends on this multivariable function of several parameters. Supersaturation has an optimal range, where sugar crystals grow evenly and widely. Outside the range, the crystals will stop growing and might even melt or start to form new crystals spontaneously creating fines and conglomerates requiring reprocessing. The Zutora SeedMaster-4 is a unique device specifically created for sugar crystallization, providing the parameters necessary for sugar crystallization. Online data provided by the SeedMaster instrument: SupersaturationMassecuite solids content (%)Crystal content (% vol.)Crystal size (mm)Mother liquor purity (%)Mother liquor concentration (%)Temperature (°C or ºF)Massecuite level (%)Massecuite density (kg/m3) Measure accurately Brix and concentration inline Vaisala Polaris refractometers and the Zutora SeedMaster-4 provide:Increased quality of liquid and crystal sugars Sugar products precisely according to recipeAssurance that liquid bulk sugar and molasses meet specificationsOptimized extraction process by minimizing the usage of water which needs to be evaporated at a later stageEnergy savings by adapting product flow to the capacity of the evaporators Control over feed juice to adjust the concentration with the capacity of the separation columns extending the intervalsbetween recovering cycles and prolonging the lifetime of the columnsMonitoring tool of supersaturation over the complete strike of crystallizationImplementation of automatic and accurate seeding of the vacuum pan. Applications in beet sugar milling and refining Measure Brix accurately and inline in all beet sugar miling and refining processes, including extraction, evaporation, crystallization and centrifugation (desugarization) and chromatographic separation for best yield and product quality with savings on energy and production costs. Download our application notes for more information. Beet sugar processing Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is used throughout the processing for optimization and to ensure efficiently working subprocesses and sugar beet mill and refinery. Read more Beet sugar extraction Control extraction process for efficiently working process and mill Read more Beet sugar evaporation Control steam flow and achieve constant juice concentration in evaporation stages Read more Beet sugar crystallization Yield good quality sugar crystals without fines and conglomerates Read more Green syrup and molasses Final molasses concentration quality, higher efficiency of desugarization process Read more Desugarization of molasses by chromatographic separation In-line and real-time Brix measurement to improve the chromatographic separation and successfully recover betaine Read more Applications in cane sugar milling and refining Measure Brix accurately and in-line in all cane sugar milling and refining processes, including affination, decolorization, evaporation, crystallization and recovery process for best yield and product quality with savings on energy and production costs. Download our application notes for more information. Cane sugar processing Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is used throughout the processing for optimization and to ensure efficiently working subprocesses and cane sugar mill and refinery. Read more Cane sugar affination Measure real-time the concentration of the liquor to clarification, implement process monitoring and control during the affination process. Read more Cane sugar decolorization Increase yield, control wash for the sweet water washing line, detect the interface between sweet water ad syrup, automate control of regeneration process Read more Cane sugar evaporation Ensure high-quality product with continuous Brix measurement of juice and syrup Read more Cane sugar crystallization Yield good quality crystals without fines and conglomerates monitor supersaturation, implement automatic or manual seeding Read more Cane sugar recovery Final molasses, dilution concentration control, molasses separation control, wastewater line monitoring and seeding point control Read more Applications in by-product processing Measure Brix concentration of sugar or molasses, monitor crystallization process for quality yield. Download our application notes for more information. Citric acid production Maintain target concentration of sugar or molasses and citric acid, monitor crystallization process Read more Applications in side-stream treatments Monitor Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and detect sugar shots or excessive amount of sugar in boiler feed water prior damages occur, monitor and control accurately, continuously and in-line the organic load (TOC) content in effluent or sweet-water streams. Download our application notes for more information. Sugar leakage detection in boiler feedwater Detect sugar shots in the feed water prior equipment damage occur Read more Total Organic Carbon (TOC) monitoring and control in wastewater streams Measure Total Organic Carbon (TOC) accurately and in-line and create control strategy with the help of Dissolved Solids (SD) measurement Read more Can't find your application? Only some examples of our refractometer applications are listed here. There are still hundreds more!Our application experts will help you. Tell us a bit more by filling the form or contact us. Contact form The advantages of liquid concentration measurement over density measurement eBook for sugar refineriesThe primary goal of beet and cane sugar production is to ensure ideal sugar crystals. For this, several critical process parameters must be followed. The eBook provides knowledge on verified practices for optimizing sugar crystallization and producing uniform sugar crystals while reducing energy consumption and minimizing production costs.Download the eBook to learn more. Download the eBook White papers and Technical papers Measuring massecuite solids content and mother liquor concentration in vacuum batch pans Massecuite solids content and mother liquor concentration are commonly monitored parameters in the vacuum pan as they are used to control the crystallization process and therefore have an effect on the end product quality, the sugar crystals. Massecuite... Read more Technical paper for Sugar Industry Technologists S.I.T. 2019 conference Online monitoring of batch cooling crystallization Batch cooling crystallization is a widely practiced production process in several industries. In the sugar industry, it is mainly used as the first step to produce massecuite (footing magma) to seed batch... Read more Crystal growth and crystallization control tactics in industrial sugar crystallizers Crystal growth is a favorite subject of crystallization research. Due to the complexity of the process, there are several more or less different approaches to its study. Most of the theoretical studies rely on mass, energy, and population balance equations... Read more On-Line monitoring and control of supersaturation and other massecuite parameters in vacuum pans: A control engineering approach It is generally acknowledged that supersaturation is the most important parameter in sugar crystallization. It has a key role in determining product quality and yield, cost of production, profitability, and survival of the manufacturer. Besides... Read more Sugar crystallization: Look for the devil in the details, part 1 Sugar crystallization is a process of key importance. Currently, a large percentage of crystallized sugar is produced under manual control using instruments that arguably do not provide actionable information, and apparently resemble methods used several... Read more Sugar crystallization: Look for the devil in the details, part 2 In Part 1 of this paper some of the most important details of sugar crystallization, like product quality, cost of production, crystal growth, pan circulation, and seeding were discussed. The role and importance of supersaturation in all of these details... Read more SeedMaster 2: A universal crystallization transmitter and automatic seeding device There is a growing realization of the importance of supersaturation in sugar crystallization. It has a profound effect on product quality and on the cost of production as well, parameters that determine the chances of survival of plants all over the world. Read more Blogs, webinars and success stories Customer case Sugar refinery boosts profitability with advanced sugar crystallization control A sugar refinery in Thailand is benefiting from optimized batch vacuum crystallization strikes, crystal quality, and yield owning Learn more Webinar Inline Monitoring Throughout Milling & Refining: A Sweeter Solution for Sugar Vaisala Polaris refractometers can be introduced into several stages of sugar manufacturing to increase the quality of liquid and crystal product Register to watch eBook The advantages of liquid concentration measurement over density measurement In this eBook, we review density and liquid concentration measurements as tools for process and product quality control in the sugar refining industry. Learn more eBook All you need to know about liquid concentration and density measurements Processing industries often handle liquids which need to be measured for product quality assurance. For comprehensive quality control, analysis of the liquid concentration is needed at different steps of the manufacturing process. Download Cane and beet sugar milling and refining related products Sugar crystallization: reach target CV and MA with advanced process control Producing good and consistent quality sugar relies on crystal growth, and supersaturation is the driving force for this growth. The speed of crystallization depends on this multivariable equation of several parameters. Supersaturation is defined as the ratio of sugar in a solution to the sugar needed to saturate the solution at the same temperature. Read more Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GC Process Refractometer Measure concentrations of acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents and various other solutions directly in pipeline, in production transport and quality control in chemical and other industries Read more Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GP Process Refractometer Measure concentrations of sugars/Brix, acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents, and various other solutions directly in pipeline and tanks, in production transport and quality control in sugar, chemical, petrochemical, and other industries. Read more Liquid concentration measurement Vaisala offers a wide range of products tailored to liquid measuring needs of different industries. Learn more about the refractometer technology and its applications, and visit the library of product related assets. Learn more
Applications in beet sugar milling and refining Measure Brix accurately and inline in all beet sugar miling and refining processes, including extraction, evaporation, crystallization and centrifugation (desugarization) and chromatographic separation for best yield and product quality with savings on energy and production costs. Download our application notes for more information. Beet sugar processing Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is used throughout the processing for optimization and to ensure efficiently working subprocesses and sugar beet mill and refinery. Read more Beet sugar extraction Control extraction process for efficiently working process and mill Read more Beet sugar evaporation Control steam flow and achieve constant juice concentration in evaporation stages Read more Beet sugar crystallization Yield good quality sugar crystals without fines and conglomerates Read more Green syrup and molasses Final molasses concentration quality, higher efficiency of desugarization process Read more Desugarization of molasses by chromatographic separation In-line and real-time Brix measurement to improve the chromatographic separation and successfully recover betaine Read more
Beet sugar processing Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is used throughout the processing for optimization and to ensure efficiently working subprocesses and sugar beet mill and refinery. Read more
Beet sugar evaporation Control steam flow and achieve constant juice concentration in evaporation stages Read more
Beet sugar crystallization Yield good quality sugar crystals without fines and conglomerates Read more
Green syrup and molasses Final molasses concentration quality, higher efficiency of desugarization process Read more
Desugarization of molasses by chromatographic separation In-line and real-time Brix measurement to improve the chromatographic separation and successfully recover betaine Read more
Applications in cane sugar milling and refining Measure Brix accurately and in-line in all cane sugar milling and refining processes, including affination, decolorization, evaporation, crystallization and recovery process for best yield and product quality with savings on energy and production costs. Download our application notes for more information. Cane sugar processing Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is used throughout the processing for optimization and to ensure efficiently working subprocesses and cane sugar mill and refinery. Read more Cane sugar affination Measure real-time the concentration of the liquor to clarification, implement process monitoring and control during the affination process. Read more Cane sugar decolorization Increase yield, control wash for the sweet water washing line, detect the interface between sweet water ad syrup, automate control of regeneration process Read more Cane sugar evaporation Ensure high-quality product with continuous Brix measurement of juice and syrup Read more Cane sugar crystallization Yield good quality crystals without fines and conglomerates monitor supersaturation, implement automatic or manual seeding Read more Cane sugar recovery Final molasses, dilution concentration control, molasses separation control, wastewater line monitoring and seeding point control Read more
Cane sugar processing Vaisala Polaris process refractometer is used throughout the processing for optimization and to ensure efficiently working subprocesses and cane sugar mill and refinery. Read more
Cane sugar affination Measure real-time the concentration of the liquor to clarification, implement process monitoring and control during the affination process. Read more
Cane sugar decolorization Increase yield, control wash for the sweet water washing line, detect the interface between sweet water ad syrup, automate control of regeneration process Read more
Cane sugar evaporation Ensure high-quality product with continuous Brix measurement of juice and syrup Read more
Cane sugar crystallization Yield good quality crystals without fines and conglomerates monitor supersaturation, implement automatic or manual seeding Read more
Cane sugar recovery Final molasses, dilution concentration control, molasses separation control, wastewater line monitoring and seeding point control Read more
Applications in by-product processing Measure Brix concentration of sugar or molasses, monitor crystallization process for quality yield. Download our application notes for more information. Citric acid production Maintain target concentration of sugar or molasses and citric acid, monitor crystallization process Read more
Citric acid production Maintain target concentration of sugar or molasses and citric acid, monitor crystallization process Read more
Applications in side-stream treatments Monitor Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and detect sugar shots or excessive amount of sugar in boiler feed water prior damages occur, monitor and control accurately, continuously and in-line the organic load (TOC) content in effluent or sweet-water streams. Download our application notes for more information. Sugar leakage detection in boiler feedwater Detect sugar shots in the feed water prior equipment damage occur Read more Total Organic Carbon (TOC) monitoring and control in wastewater streams Measure Total Organic Carbon (TOC) accurately and in-line and create control strategy with the help of Dissolved Solids (SD) measurement Read more
Sugar leakage detection in boiler feedwater Detect sugar shots in the feed water prior equipment damage occur Read more
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) monitoring and control in wastewater streams Measure Total Organic Carbon (TOC) accurately and in-line and create control strategy with the help of Dissolved Solids (SD) measurement Read more
White papers and Technical papers Measuring massecuite solids content and mother liquor concentration in vacuum batch pans Massecuite solids content and mother liquor concentration are commonly monitored parameters in the vacuum pan as they are used to control the crystallization process and therefore have an effect on the end product quality, the sugar crystals. Massecuite... Read more Technical paper for Sugar Industry Technologists S.I.T. 2019 conference Online monitoring of batch cooling crystallization Batch cooling crystallization is a widely practiced production process in several industries. In the sugar industry, it is mainly used as the first step to produce massecuite (footing magma) to seed batch... Read more Crystal growth and crystallization control tactics in industrial sugar crystallizers Crystal growth is a favorite subject of crystallization research. Due to the complexity of the process, there are several more or less different approaches to its study. Most of the theoretical studies rely on mass, energy, and population balance equations... Read more On-Line monitoring and control of supersaturation and other massecuite parameters in vacuum pans: A control engineering approach It is generally acknowledged that supersaturation is the most important parameter in sugar crystallization. It has a key role in determining product quality and yield, cost of production, profitability, and survival of the manufacturer. Besides... Read more Sugar crystallization: Look for the devil in the details, part 1 Sugar crystallization is a process of key importance. Currently, a large percentage of crystallized sugar is produced under manual control using instruments that arguably do not provide actionable information, and apparently resemble methods used several... Read more Sugar crystallization: Look for the devil in the details, part 2 In Part 1 of this paper some of the most important details of sugar crystallization, like product quality, cost of production, crystal growth, pan circulation, and seeding were discussed. The role and importance of supersaturation in all of these details... Read more SeedMaster 2: A universal crystallization transmitter and automatic seeding device There is a growing realization of the importance of supersaturation in sugar crystallization. It has a profound effect on product quality and on the cost of production as well, parameters that determine the chances of survival of plants all over the world. Read more
Measuring massecuite solids content and mother liquor concentration in vacuum batch pans Massecuite solids content and mother liquor concentration are commonly monitored parameters in the vacuum pan as they are used to control the crystallization process and therefore have an effect on the end product quality, the sugar crystals. Massecuite... Read more
Technical paper for Sugar Industry Technologists S.I.T. 2019 conference Online monitoring of batch cooling crystallization Batch cooling crystallization is a widely practiced production process in several industries. In the sugar industry, it is mainly used as the first step to produce massecuite (footing magma) to seed batch... Read more
Crystal growth and crystallization control tactics in industrial sugar crystallizers Crystal growth is a favorite subject of crystallization research. Due to the complexity of the process, there are several more or less different approaches to its study. Most of the theoretical studies rely on mass, energy, and population balance equations... Read more
On-Line monitoring and control of supersaturation and other massecuite parameters in vacuum pans: A control engineering approach It is generally acknowledged that supersaturation is the most important parameter in sugar crystallization. It has a key role in determining product quality and yield, cost of production, profitability, and survival of the manufacturer. Besides... Read more
Sugar crystallization: Look for the devil in the details, part 1 Sugar crystallization is a process of key importance. Currently, a large percentage of crystallized sugar is produced under manual control using instruments that arguably do not provide actionable information, and apparently resemble methods used several... Read more
Sugar crystallization: Look for the devil in the details, part 2 In Part 1 of this paper some of the most important details of sugar crystallization, like product quality, cost of production, crystal growth, pan circulation, and seeding were discussed. The role and importance of supersaturation in all of these details... Read more
SeedMaster 2: A universal crystallization transmitter and automatic seeding device There is a growing realization of the importance of supersaturation in sugar crystallization. It has a profound effect on product quality and on the cost of production as well, parameters that determine the chances of survival of plants all over the world. Read more
Cane and beet sugar milling and refining related products Sugar crystallization: reach target CV and MA with advanced process control Producing good and consistent quality sugar relies on crystal growth, and supersaturation is the driving force for this growth. The speed of crystallization depends on this multivariable equation of several parameters. Supersaturation is defined as the ratio of sugar in a solution to the sugar needed to saturate the solution at the same temperature. Read more Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GC Process Refractometer Measure concentrations of acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents and various other solutions directly in pipeline, in production transport and quality control in chemical and other industries Read more Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GP Process Refractometer Measure concentrations of sugars/Brix, acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents, and various other solutions directly in pipeline and tanks, in production transport and quality control in sugar, chemical, petrochemical, and other industries. Read more
Sugar crystallization: reach target CV and MA with advanced process control Producing good and consistent quality sugar relies on crystal growth, and supersaturation is the driving force for this growth. The speed of crystallization depends on this multivariable equation of several parameters. Supersaturation is defined as the ratio of sugar in a solution to the sugar needed to saturate the solution at the same temperature. Read more
Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GC Process Refractometer Measure concentrations of acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents and various other solutions directly in pipeline, in production transport and quality control in chemical and other industries Read more
Vaisala Polaris™ PR53GP Process Refractometer Measure concentrations of sugars/Brix, acids, alkaline solutions, alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents, and various other solutions directly in pipeline and tanks, in production transport and quality control in sugar, chemical, petrochemical, and other industries. Read more
