Improving the efficiency of carbon/diatomaceous earth filtration in sugar refining using the carbo-UA process

The utilization of Powder Carbon (PAC) and Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a well established purification method in sugar refining, with consumption estimates in 2001 of 24 Million pounds each of PAC 1 and DE in sweetener processing. While such usage levels certainly solidify PACIDE filtration as a viable technology in the sweetener industry, Carbo-UA has sought methods of optimizing the improving the overall process efficiency of Sugar Refineries currently using PAC/DE filtration. We will define several parameters as success criteria for improving the PAC/DE filtration process, demonstrate methods development and present field results observed in the implementation of the Carbo-UA process. Verification of the Carbo-UA process will be demonstrated from the results of industrial testing, as observed by a 10% increase in overall process efficiency, filtration cycle lengths of twice that of conventional PAC/ DE, a 50-60% reduction in solid wastes generated and substantial quality improvements in refined sugar at the 900 metric tonne/ day Incauca Sugar Refinery and 150 metric tonne/ day Nghe An Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery in Vietnam.