Sugar Refining & Processing
After sugar beets or sugar cane are harvested by farmers, the sugar is processed and refined to ensure consistency and quality.
Whether sugar comes from sugar beets or sugar cane, the purification process is similar for each plant, and the result is the same pure sucrose. One difference in processing between the two plants is that sugar beets are refined at a single facility, a sugar beet factory and sugar cane at two facilities: processing starts at a raw sugar factory and finishes at a sugar refinery.
What gives sugar its white color?
Sugar is naturally white. When the sugar is initially extracted from the plants, it has a golden color because of the non-sugar materials attached to and within the sugar crystals. This golden sugar is then purified, where these plant fibers and molasses are removed, extracting the sugar molecules from the non-sugar materials and restoring the sugar crystals to their natural white color.
Little is wasted in sugar processing
Most of the non-sugar materials generated in sugar processing are used for other purposes, recycled or reused.
Molasses, used by feed companies, bakers, distillers and pharmaceutical companies, for animal feed and many more products, is extracted through the beet and cane sugar refining processes. It takes about four rounds of extraction to remove the molasses to obtain the maximum amount of sucrose.
Molasses, used by feed companies, bakers, distillers and pharmaceutical companies, for animal feed and many more products, is extracted through the beet and cane sugar refining processes. It takes about four rounds of extraction to remove the molasses to obtain the maximum amount of sucrose.
The sugar beet residue, or pulp, is generally used for animal feed or further processed for use as other carbohydrate-based products.
In addition, much of the water removed along the way still contains sucrose (called “sweetwater”), so it’s pumped back into the stations to be used again.
Carbon used in sugar cane filtration is recharged (revivified) and reused too.
A Crash Course on the Many Types of Sugar
All sugar is made by first extracting sugar juice from sugar beet or sugar cane plants., and from there, many types of sugar can be produced.
Learn More 🡢Clearing up Confusion
Sugar? Sugars? Added sugars? Understanding exactly what the differences are can be confusing and even a little bit frustrating, especially when there are a lot of inconsistencies in how these terms are used. To clarify, let’s take a look at some quick definitions and links to what they actually mean.
Learn More 🡢