Processing - Juice Purification

Along with the water and sugar, Diffusion Juice contains non-sugar impurities which are required to be removed to make pure sugar. Milk of lime and carbon dioxide gas (CO2), both needed in the juice purification process, are produced in the Lime Kiln area of the factory. The lime kiln burns Coke to heat Lime Rock to produce CO2. Lime exiting the bottom of the kiln is mixed with sweet water in a rotating drum (Lime Slacker) to produce Milk of Lime. In simplest terms, purification is accomplished when lime and CO2 are added to diffusion juice in proper proportions, time, and temperature. Impurities combine with the lime to form a mud or sludge (Precipitated Calcium Carbonate) that can be removed through settling and filtration. Purification Steps include Pre-Liming, Main Liming, 1st Carbonation, Settling (Enviroclear), 2nd Carbonation, and Filtration. The purified juice is ready to go on to the next step in the process.