APPLICATION OF HIGH ELECTRIC FIELD PULSES FOR SUGAR CANE PROCESSING

The effect of High Electric Field Pulses (HELP) on cell disintegration of sugar cane was investigated. The sugar cane was treated at different Field strength (4 to 5 kV) and pulse number (10to 80 pulses at 4 and 5). The juice yield as well as mass transfer of HELP pre-treated sample were measured and compared with heated (20 min, 70º C) or untreated sample. The results showed thatusing HELP treatment at 4 to 5 kV the sugar cane cells could be effectively disintegrated. The masstransfer of HELP treated samples were comparable to heat treated sample. The Juice yield of sample after pressing of HELP pre-treated samples were higher (74.5% at 5kV, 20 pulses) than heat treated (73.2%) and distinct higher than untreated sugar cane (65.5%). The energy consumption for HELPdisintegration of sugar cane (17 kJ/kg at 5kV and 20 pulses) was 10 times less compare to heat treatment (171 kJ/kg). Additionally the cell disintegration using HELP occurred faster (1 min with 0.5 pulses/s and 30 pulses) than thermal disintegration (20 min at 70° C).

Keywords:

Sugar cane , high electric field pulses , energy consumption , mass transfer , juice yield