Studies of Clarification of Final Beet Molasses using Charcoal

Beet sugar molasses studied in this investigation were kindly provided from  Delta Sugar Factory, Kafr El-sheikh governorate , Egypt. During the 2011 working season. Samples of the molasses were analyzed for the following : Brix , sugar , purity , non-sugar , ash , organic non-sugar , as well as relations between analytical values characterizing beet molasses . Molasses solutions of different concentrations were clarified using charcoal. The obtained results illustrated the following conclusions:
1- Refractive index was greater accuracy in measuring the soluble solids content in molasses .
2- Approximate analysis of beet molasses were : Brix 80.20 - 81.61 , sucrose 48.36 - 49.56 , ash 12.11 - 12.35 and organic non-sugar 18.48 - 20.89 % .
3- Betaine was the most abundant nitrogenous compound found in molasses (3 – 4 %) .
4- The non-sucrose carbohydrate of molasses consist of invert sugar , usually less than 1% in molasses .
5- Other nitrogen free organic impurities in beet molasses were the acids (lactic , citric , malic , acetic and others) .
6- Best results were obtained with solution of 300 gm of beet molasses per liter and 10% of activated carbon (charcoal per 100 gm of beet molasses) .