Determinación del índice melasigénico en las etapas del proceso de elaboración de azúcar blanco en el Ingenio Azucarero del Norte IANCEM y su influencia global en la recuperación de sacarosa.

Abstract

The sugar industry´s main objective is the recovery of sucrose from cane of sugar; however, there are factors that impede the total compliance of the objective. This study is based on determining the melasigénico index from the analysis of the percentage of ash and the percentage of reducing sugars at all stages of the process. It is permitted to determine the causes that produce that the IANCEM cannot exhaust molasses low purity, identifying that the problem comes from receipt of raw material, which values lower than the established limits is obtained as a product of agricultural factors that is exacerbated in the clarification where a considerable increase of impurities is appreciated. For these reason were established as critical control points at these two stages, through the realization of control charts the presence of patterns of abnormality is observed and by analyzing process capability was corroborated that considerable changes are needed in the same. The main problem lies in the low quality of calcium oxide (lime) used in liming stage, achieving an increase of 1.9% impurities, main causes of the melasigénico effect is exacerbated in the final operations of the process. The best alternative would be to use a cal containing greater than 85% pure CaO harvestable, but there is no in the domestic market and it is looked for the alternatives that improve the conditions of consumption; taking as best choice using a purification system Cal, thus IANCEM can implement in its process, allowing reducing considerably the percentage of ashes and, consequently optimize the recovery of sucrose.