Cukorfinomítás

Cukorfinomítás, often translated as sugar refining, is the process of transforming raw sugar into the pure white granulated sugar commonly found in households and used in food production. Raw sugar, produced directly from sugarcane or sugar beets, contains impurities such as molasses, mineral salts, and other plant matter, which give it a brown or yellowish color and a distinct flavor.

The refining process typically involves several stages. Initially, raw sugar is washed to remove surface impurities. It is then dissolved in hot water to create a syrup. This syrup is then subjected to a series of treatments to remove the remaining impurities. One common method involves the use of activated carbon or bone char, which adsorb colored compounds and other non-sugar substances from the syrup. This clarification step is crucial for achieving the desired whiteness.

Following clarification, the purified syrup is filtered to remove any suspended solids. The syrup is then concentrated through evaporation to a supersaturated state, promoting the crystallization of pure sucrose. These sugar crystals are then separated from the remaining liquid (molasses) through centrifugation. The crystals are washed again to remove any residual molasses, and then dried. Finally, the refined sugar may be screened into different grain sizes depending on its intended use. The by-products of refining, particularly molasses, are often used in animal feed or for the production of ethanol.