Products
Sugar production process
The sugar production process involves the extraction of sucrose from sugarcane or sugar beet. The harvested cane or beet is first washed and chopped into small pieces. Then, it is crushed or shredded to extract the juice, which is filtered and clarified to remove impurities. The juice is then boiled and evaporated to form a thick syrup, which is further crystallized to separate the sugar crystals from the molasses. The sugar crystals are then washed, dried and packed for sale. The molasses, which contains residual sugar and other substances, is either sold as a by-product or used for further processing.
Cogen
Cogen, short for cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single fuel source, such as bagasse, the fibrous residue of sugarcane after juice extraction. Cogeneration is an efficient and environmentally friendly way of utilizing the energy potential of bagasse, which would otherwise be wasted or burned. By burning bagasse in boilers, steam is generated, which drives turbines to produce electricity. The exhaust steam from the turbines can then be used for various heating purposes in the sugar factory, such as juice concentration, crystallization and drying. Cogeneration not only reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and grid power, but also generates surplus electricity that can be exported to the grid or other consumers
Distillery
Distillery is the process of producing ethanol or alcohol from molasses or other feedstocks. Ethanol is a renewable and clean-burning fuel that can be blended with gasoline or diesel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve engine performance. Ethanol can also be used for industrial and potable purposes. The distillery process involves three main steps: fermentation, distillation and dehydration. Fermentation is the conversion of sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide by yeast or bacteria. Distillation is the separation of ethanol from water and other impurities by boiling and condensing. Dehydration is the removal of residual water from ethanol by molecular sieves or other methods
By-products
Bagasse: As mentioned above, bagasse is used as a fuel for cogeneration or as a raw material for paper, pulp, board and bio-composites.
Molasses: Apart from being used for ethanol production, molasses can also be used as a feed additive for livestock, as a soil conditioner or fertilizer, as a source of yeast and organic acids, or as an ingredient for food products such as candies, cookies and sauces.
Press mud: Press mud is the solid waste obtained from the filtration of cane juice. It contains organic matter, minerals and wax. It can be used as a compost or bio-fertilizer for improving soil fertility and crop yield. It can also be used for biogas production, mushroom cultivation, vermicomposting or extraction of wax78.
Green leaves and tops: Green leaves and tops are the parts of sugarcane that are usually discarded during harvesting. They can be used as a source of biomass for energy production, as a mulch or compost for soil conservation, as a feed for animals or as a raw material for bioplastics9