Avaliação e otimização do desempenho do extrato de tanino de Acácia Negra na clarificação de caldo e xarope de cana para fabricação de açúcar
Data
2019-03-08
Autores
Leite, Inácio Ramos
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
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Editor
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
A clarificação do caldo e do xarope de cana é uma das etapas mais importantes do processo de fabricação de açúcar, considerando que uma boa clarificação pode resultar em efeitos altamente benéficos na qualidade e rendimento do produto final, o açúcar cristal ou refinado. Agentes auxiliares de clarificação são muito utilizados nesta etapa. Atualmente, na indústria brasileira e de outras nações grandes produtoras de açúcar, está consolidada a utilização de hidróxido de cálcio, ácido fosfórico e gás anidrido sulfuroso. Contudo, este último, sempre foi muito questionado por questões ambientais e de saúde humana. Novos agentes de clarificação vêm sendo estudados e apresentados como possíveis opções. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho avaliou e otimizou o desempenho do extrato de tanino de Acácia Negra no processo de clarificação de caldo e xarope de cana voltado para fabricação de açúcar. Dosagens de tanino entre 300 e 500 ppm, associadas à caleagem simples aplicada em pH 7,3 com dosagem de 3 ppm de floculante aniônico, proporcionaram os melhores resultados de 32,3 a 33,7% de remoção de cor, e de 88,8 a 93,3% de remoção de turbidez, demonstrando ser um agente auxiliar promissor para clarificação do caldo. Os resultados mostraram que a dosagem de 400 mg kg-1 de sólidos dissolvidos deste extrato natural, associadas à caleagem aplicada em pH 6,5, com dosagem de 15 mg kg-1 de sólidos dissolvidos de floculante aniônico, permitiram a diminuição da cor do xarope bruto de 12.774 UI para 9.714 UI, coloração inferior à obtida por meio da clarificação convencional, na qual obteve-se um xarope com 11.576 UI de cor. Houve redução no teor de amido e dextrana no xarope clarificado, e efeitos positivos na remoção de turbidez do xarope, ainda que não tão intensa quanto à cor. A aplicação de extrato de tanino na clarificação industrial do caldo e do xarope requer dosagens inferiores às dosagens de agentes de clarificação tradicionais e fácil adaptação da planta industrial, sem alterar parâmetros usuais dos processos, como pH do caldo e do xarope caleado, e dosagem de floculante aniônico.
Clarification of cane juice and syrup is one of the most important steps in the sugar manufacturing process, whereas good clarification can result in highly beneficial effects on the quality and yield of the final product, crystal or refined sugar. Auxiliary clarifying agents are widely used in this step. Currently, in the Brazilian industry as well as in other producing countries, the use of calcium hydroxide, phosphoric acid and sulfur dioxide gas is consolidated. However, the latter has always been much questioned by environmental and human health issues. New clarification agents have been studied and presented as possible options. In this context, the present work evaluated and optimized the performance of the Acacia Negra tannin extract in the clarification process of sugar cane juice and syrup aimed at sugar production. Tannin dosages between 300 and 500 ppm, associated with the simple liming applied at pH 7.3 with a dosage of 3 ppm of anionic flocculant, gave the best results of 32.3 to 33.7% of color removal, and of 88.8 to 93.3% turbidity removal, proving to be a promising auxiliary agent for juice clarification. The results showed that the dosage of 400 mg kg-1 of dissolved solids of this natural extract, associated with liming applied at pH 6.5, with a dosage of 15 mg kg-1 of dissolved solids of anionic flocculant, allowed the decrease of the color of the untreated syrup of 12,774 IU to 9,714 IU, less than that obtained by conventional clarification, in which a syrup of 11,576 IU color was obtained. There was also a decrease in the starch and dextran contents in the clarified syrup, and a positive effect on the turbidity removal, in despite as not being as large as it was obtained for color removal. In general, the application of tannin extract in the clarification of sugarcane juice and syrup requires lower dosages of the traditional clarifying agents and easy adaptation of the industrial plant, without altering the regular process parameters as pH of the juice and syrup and the dosage of the anionic flocculant.
Clarification of cane juice and syrup is one of the most important steps in the sugar manufacturing process, whereas good clarification can result in highly beneficial effects on the quality and yield of the final product, crystal or refined sugar. Auxiliary clarifying agents are widely used in this step. Currently, in the Brazilian industry as well as in other producing countries, the use of calcium hydroxide, phosphoric acid and sulfur dioxide gas is consolidated. However, the latter has always been much questioned by environmental and human health issues. New clarification agents have been studied and presented as possible options. In this context, the present work evaluated and optimized the performance of the Acacia Negra tannin extract in the clarification process of sugar cane juice and syrup aimed at sugar production. Tannin dosages between 300 and 500 ppm, associated with the simple liming applied at pH 7.3 with a dosage of 3 ppm of anionic flocculant, gave the best results of 32.3 to 33.7% of color removal, and of 88.8 to 93.3% turbidity removal, proving to be a promising auxiliary agent for juice clarification. The results showed that the dosage of 400 mg kg-1 of dissolved solids of this natural extract, associated with liming applied at pH 6.5, with a dosage of 15 mg kg-1 of dissolved solids of anionic flocculant, allowed the decrease of the color of the untreated syrup of 12,774 IU to 9,714 IU, less than that obtained by conventional clarification, in which a syrup of 11,576 IU color was obtained. There was also a decrease in the starch and dextran contents in the clarified syrup, and a positive effect on the turbidity removal, in despite as not being as large as it was obtained for color removal. In general, the application of tannin extract in the clarification of sugarcane juice and syrup requires lower dosages of the traditional clarifying agents and easy adaptation of the industrial plant, without altering the regular process parameters as pH of the juice and syrup and the dosage of the anionic flocculant.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Tanino, Clarificação, Caldo de cana, Xarope de cana, Cana-de-açúcar, Tannin, Clarification, Sugarcane juice, Cane syrup, Sugarcane