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Lynne Wong's PhD thesis

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full, the crystals are all of the same desired size. The crystals and syrup form a dense mass<br />

called massecuite, and the strike (the contents of the pan) is then discharged into a mixer or<br />

a crystallizer, where the crystals continue to grow.<br />

In the three-boiling system, the first boiling of raw syrup yields raw sugar and A molasses,<br />

which is returned to the vacuum pan to be reboiled on a "footing" of first-grade massecuite<br />

to a second massecuite (B) that in turn yields a second crop of crystals (B sugar). This is<br />

usually mixed with the A sugar forming the commercial output of the factory. The second<br />

or B molasses is in turn reboiled on a footing of syrup crystals to form C massecuite. The<br />

C sugar is mingled with syrup and used for A and B massecuite "seed". The final cane<br />

molasses contains approximately one-third sucrose, one-fifth reducing sugars, and the<br />

remainder, ash, organic non-sugars and water. It is used as cattle feed, and in the<br />

manufacture of alcohol and yeast.<br />

1.2.7 Centrifugation<br />

The crystals in the massecuite are separated from the surrounding mother liquor (molasses)<br />

by centrifugal force in a machine called a centrifuge. It consists of a perforated drum or<br />

basket so arranged that it may revolve on a vertical shaft or axis called the spindle. The<br />

perforated basket is lined with a metal screen containing 400 to 600 perforations per square<br />

inch. The basket revolves at 1000 to 1800 rpm. The perforated screen retains the sugar<br />

crystals which may be washed with water or steam while the molasses passes through the<br />

lining. The raw sugar obtained is then sent to a dryer and cooled.<br />

1.3 MEASURE OF CANE QUALITY<br />

The amount of sugar recovered from cane is highly dependent on the raw material<br />

processed. The next section examines the quality of cane received at the mills.<br />

The quality of cane received at Mauritian sugar factories has deteriorated in recent years to<br />

such an extent that the raw material appears more like a few cane stalks buried in<br />

extraneous matter, i.e. non-cane, which contains little sucrose and inflates the mass of cane<br />

processed.<br />

Extraneous matter in cane is defined as any material that is delivered to a sugar factory as<br />

part of the cane but which does not contribute to increasing the amount of sugar produced,<br />

or has the tendency to lower the purity of the mixed juice. Included in this classification<br />

9

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