Sugar analysis

From
raw juice to
dry sugar

Optimize your production every step of the way with the ParticleTech Solution

Monitor every step of the process​

  • Sucrose crystallization
  • Juice purification
  • Seed / Slurry
  • Dry / Final product

Results provided

  • High quality images
  • Shape parameters and Size distribution of crystals from 0.5 – 1500 µm
  • ICUMSA® equivalent results (MA and CV% based on Powers, Rens, RRSB and Butler’s method)
  • Scanning of high volume for statistically representative output​
Thank you ParticleTech for the Sugar Analyser, which has added much value to my work, and for the excellent service!
Melvin Carter
Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Nordic Sugar

Sucrose crystallization : sampling from vaccum pan

Nordzucker

In collaboration with Nordzucker Group, ParticleTech has developed the ParticleTech Sugar Analyser for monitoring and optimization of sucrose crystallization.

How does it work?

Take a sample by the pan and mix with dilution liquid immediately while still standing by the pan. Dilution liquid can be saturated sugar, saturated sugar with invert sugars or glycol – all at room temperature. Saturated sugar at room temperature has proven to work. When mixing massecuite sample immediately with dilution liquid, crystallization is interrupted, and crystals represent pan content.

Measurements: The prepared mixture is added to a standard titer plate (e.g. 12 wells) and measurements can begin:

  1. Titer plate is placed in oCelloScope
  2. Press “start” in user-friendly software
  3.  Scanning of the sample generates Best Focus image
  4. Algorithms are applied and ICUMSA® equivalent results, size distribution, shape etc. are calculated
  5. A colour scheme is used to show the crystals captured for analysis (Segmented Image)
  6. Output of the analysis is shown in a PC
  7. Time: Step 1 – 6 approx. 1-3 minutes

Typical use cases of ParticleTech Sugar Analyzer:

  • Two main approaches to utilizing the ParticleTech Sugar Analyzer:
  • As a troubleshooting tool for process specialists, who carry the instrument between sites and use it to pinpoint and solve operational problems (Approx. 30 % of instruments)
  • As a continuous monitoring and optimization tool in the daily operational procedure, in line with other measurements such as brix-measurement, sieve analysis, color measurements, ash content measurements, etc. (Approx. 70 % of instruments)
  • The typical operational challenges that are easily pinpointed and resolved/optimized with the ParticleTech Sugar Analyzer are:
  • Individual pan monitoring and optimization
  • Detection of false grain formation, leading to subsequent adjustment of supersaturation degree
  • Detection of conglomerate formation, leading to a subsequent adjustment of the seeding strategy and/or supersaturation degree
  • Early detection of altered/hindered crystal growth, such as detecting elongated crystal growth due to raffinose.
  • Monitoring of crystal growth rates, leading to seasonal adjustments of boiling times and/or supersaturation degrees
  • Monitoring and optimization of seed slurry production
  • Easy pinpointing of suboptimal milling by directly measuring seed size and seed slurry concentration from each individual mill and subsequent adjustment of milling time/repair of malfunctioning mill
  • Test and validation of sieve stacks
  • Analysis of dry sugar retained on each sieve, indicating if the sieves are fulfilling their specifications.

Our customers have experienced the following improvements:

  • Higher process throughput due to an overall reduction of crystal size variation
  • Faster pinpointing and diagnostics of operational challenges
  • Multiple customers have implemented ParticleTech Sugar Analyzer as a company-wide standard method in their daily production, resulting in ongoing optimizations across production sites.

A movable solution for the production floor

  • ParticleTech Sugar Analyser consists of:
  • oCelloScope (450 x 260 x 250 mm, 9.6 kg)
  • Laptop
  • Router
  • Ethernet cables (2x): for computer and oCelloScope
  • Power cables (3x): for router, computer and oCelloScope
  • Flight case (627 x 497 x 353 mm)
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