Synthesis and Characterization of Promising Economic Biopolymer Composite as a Clarifying Agent for Sugar Industry

Abstract

AbstractThree biopolymer composites (1), (2) and (3) based on chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose were synthesized, characterized and applied as nontoxic cationic color precipitant and flocculating agents for mixed cane juice (MCJ) and raw syrup refining process. The chemical structure of the obtained composites was elucidated by different techniques, FT-IR, XRD and SEM. They were investigated as a decolorizing agent of colorant matters of MCJ and raw syrup. The composite (1) was chosen and tested for further procedures due to its stability and economically purposes. Composite (1) showed a color removal efficiency of MCJ and raw syrup by 15.8 and 40.7%, respectively, at 200 ppm dosages, compared to the traditional clarification method. All the analyses of MCJ and raw syrup were conducted in the pilot plant to compare between the obtained clarification efficiency in presence of bioclarifying agent and that with the currently used phosphatation process. Also, the obtained results showed that the composite (1) can act as flocculating agent where 50% reduction is in the dosage of anionic flocculant. Moreover, the total cost of chemical aids and maintenance will be decreased by about 2.4 million LE in case of incorporating composite (1) in the clarification process of sugar cane juice.