Is It a Valid Alternate Approach for Processing Sugar Cane?
Helmut Bourzutschky, Cane and Beet Technology Consultants, Germany More than 40 years ago the technique of splitting sugar cane stalks longitudinally and removing the interior pith cells developed, yielding in three basic components of the sugar cane stalk: pith, rind and dermax, the waxy outside layer of the cane stalk. Years of engineering achieved the development of soundly functioning Cane Separator Machines, which are today available up to 2.000 t/d capacity. Subsequent modifications of processing technologies or the selection of different technologies were required either for handling the juice extracted from the pith or utilizing the rind and removed dermax. With regards to extracting juice from pith alone the quality and composition of this juice improved significantly from conventional mill/diffuser juices. Cane Separation could, therefore, also be considered as mechanical pre-clarification, achieving purity rises of more than 5 purity points before the actual clarification st
