Abstract:
In this study, optimization has been applied to chemicals such as phosphate, lime and
SO2 on juice clarification in the cause of MSF to reduce sucrose losses with filter cake
and final molasses and to minimize scale formation inside tubes of heat exchangers
and evaporators. Turbidity, mud volume, mud settling rate and calcium oxide content
were taken as response variables to measure juice clarification efficiency towards
reduction of filter cake and final molasses purity, and minimization of scale formation
inside tubes of evaporators and heat exchangers. Design Expert-Response surface
methodology was applied to statistically evaluate the data and to solve optimum
values of factors and response variables. Goals of this study were at the range of
factors minimize turbidity, mud volume, CaO content and maximize settling rate as
much as possible. The optimum points that keeps all the parameters to a reasonable
degree of importance and the solution with maximum desirability were phosphate
content of 332.33 ppm, liming pH of 8.51 and clear juice of pH 7.02. At these
optimum conditions; turbidity of 663.34 IU, mud volume of 129.601 ml and CaO
content of 567.21 ppm were selected as minimum and settling rate of 0.016 cm/s was
selected as maximum. Therefore, all parameters were achieved their optimization
goals. The overall results of chemicals optimization were purity of filter cake reduced
from 3.74 to 3.12 % and purity of final molasses reduced from 35.8 to 33.7 %. This
means, reduction in filter cake purity by 0.62 units and reduction in final molasses
purity by 2.1 units. And also, formation scale inside tubes of evaporators and heat
exchangers were minimized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce sucrose losses and
scale formation by optimization of chemicals on the juice clarification.