MANUFACTURE OF BEET SUGAR
The process of making sugar from the beet is highly technical in its details and cannot be fully discussed within the scope of this work. A brief description, however, will give an idea of the general methods followed.
The process of manufacture may be classified under seven headings:
- 1. Transportation and cleaning of beets.
- 2. Extraction of juice, slicing and diffusion.
- 3. Purification, carbonation, filtration, concentration and sulfitation.
- 4. Formation of grain.
- 5. Partial drying, purging crystals from syrup in centrifugals.
- 6. Final drying.
- 7. Packing.
TRANSPORTATION AND CLEANING
The beets, after delivery to the factory, are stored in V-shaped bins, in the bottom of which is a flume covered by removable boards. By removing the boards, one at a time, the beets are fed into the flume, where a swift current of water floats them into the factory. From this flume the beets are lifted by means of a large wheel, a helical screw or any other suitable device, and discharged into a washer.
The common form of washer consists of a horizontal, semi-cylindrical tank provided with rotating, kicking or stirring arms for keeping the beets in motion. In this tank the beet is completely cleaned and separated from adhering earth, weeds and pebbles.
By permission of Truman G. Palmer, Esq.
DELIVERING BEETS TO THE FACTORY BY TRAIN