1. Liquid Sugar Refining Process
Ion Exchange Resin
Demineralization System
JUNE 16, 2011 Organo THAILAND CO.

2. 1.　Introduction
Ion exchange resins (IER) have been employed in the sugar refinery process for the purpose of decolorization and demineralization (deashing) of sugar liquor. Compared to the remelting of white sugar, higher decolorization rate and extremely high sugar yield can be obtained by the direct demineralization of clear liquor or fine liquor. Organo has developed an efficient IER system the “SUPER FINE LIQUOR SYSTEM” (A-MB system), which consists of an anion exchange resin tower and a mixed bed tower of anion exchange resin and cation exchange resins. This system has been applied to many sugar refinery factories in Japan and has an excellent reputation for the high quality.　　　　　　

3. 2. Liquid Sugar Products in Japan
Sucrose type
Liquid Sugar
Ion exchange resin refined liquid sugar
・High quality
Large scale production
(demineralization)
Remelt liquid sugar
（granulated sugar）
・Quality depends on granulated sugar and water.
Small scale production
・Distinct flavor
・Nongenetically modified
(compared to isomerized sugar made from cornstarch)
Invert Syrup
(Hydrolyzed sugar syrup)
・Low cost
（Ingredient of sauce）
Molasses type
Liquid Sugar

4. 3. Refining Process (Japan)
A-MB System
Remelt
Carbonation
Filtration
Active carbon or
Bone char
Ion Exchange Resin
Decolorization
Crystalization
Raw Sugar
Affination
Concentration
Deminiralization
Sterilization
Liquid Sugar
B sugar from Australia, Thailand etc.
Crystalline Sugar
600～1000 I.U.
60～150 I.U.
20～50 I.U.
<10 I.U.

5. 4. Required Quality of Liquid Sugar (Example)

6. 5. Refining Process (Thailand)
Affination
Sugar cane
Remelt
Crushing &
Extraction
Carbonation
Carbonation
Filtration
300～600 I.U.
Filtration
Ion Exchange Resin
2 steps
100～300 I.U.
Concentration
Concentration
Crystallization
Crystallization ＜
Refined sugar
White sugar
Brown sugar
C sugar
B sugar
A sugar
～45 I.U.
45～100 I.U.
400～1000 I.U.

7. 6. Liquid Sugar Production Process
Present process
Affination
Proposed process
Remelt
Carbonation
A-MB System
Ion Exchange Resin
Demineralization
Filtration
< 20 IU
< 1.0mS/cm
Ion Exchange Resin
2 steps
Concentration
Concentration
Sterilization
Filtration
Crystallization
Liquid sugar

8. 7. Total Demineralization Process
Present process
Affination
Proposed process
Remelt
Carbonation
A-MB System
Filtration
Ion Exchange Resin
Demineralization
Ion Exchange Resin
2 steps
< 20 ICUMSA
< 1.0mS/cm
Concentration
Concentration
Crystallization
Crystallization
Refined sugar
Brown sugar
White sugar ＞

9. 8. Principles of Demineralization
Regeneration
Clear liquor or Fine liquor
NaOH
HCl
Anion exchange resin
Cation exchange resin
Liquid sugar
（Super fine)
NaOH＋NaCl
Organic acids
NaCO3
Color etc.
HCl＋CaCl2
NaCl, KCl　
etc.
Adsorption of color, ions, organic acids etc.

10. 9. Conventional Ion Exchange Systems
Reverse system（Ａ－Ｋ）
Mixed Bed system （ＭＢ）
Anion exchange tower
Cation exchange tower
Mixed bed tower
・High total throughput
・Low quality
・High quality
・Low total throughput

11. 10. A-MB System ・High quality ・High total throughput
Anion exchange tower
Mixed bed tower

12. 11. Comparison of Ion Exchange Systems
最後に各システムに通液した例を示します。
ファインリカーを記載の条件で通液した時の処理液色価を測定した結果です。
グラフの横軸は全樹脂量に対する通液倍量、縦軸は色価を示しています。
A-Kシステムではブレイクスルーまでの処理量（収量）は大きいですが色価は初期から高くなっています。
MBシステムでは色価は低いですが、ブレイクスルーまでの処理量が小さくなっています。
A-MBシステムは色価が低く、かつ処理量が大きくなっています。
ここには記載していませんが、処理液導電率（灰分）も色価同様の結果であります。
Graph 1 Outlet color analysis of conventional systems and A-MB system
Conditions: 50℃, Flow rate 4 L/L-SBAER・h
Feed: Fine Liquor　(Brix 50%, EC 98 mS/cm, pH 7.3, 71 I.U.)

13. 12. Column Test Results (Thailand)
Factory A
Factory B
Factory C
Factory D
System
Softening-A-MB
A-MB
Clear
Liquor
(Feed)
Color (I.U.)
854
450～600
380
580
Conductivity
(mS/cm)
137
80～100 33
100
Super fine
(Outlet)
3～15
3～10
2～7
10～20
0.3～1.0
0.5～1.5
0.2～0.5
0.2～0.8

14. 13. Column Test Results (Example １)
Feed Analysis　（Clear liquor)
　Brix 55%
　pH 7.8
　Conductivity 90 mS/cm
　Color Value 600 ICUMSA Unit

15. 14. Column Test Results (Example 2)
Feed Analysis　（Clear liquor)
　Brix 54%
　pH 8.2
　Conductivity 137 mS/cm
　Color Value 854 ICUMSA Unit

16. 15. Column Test Results (Example 3)
Feed Analysis　（Fine liquor)
　Brix 60%
　pH 7.2
　Conductivity 60 mS/cm
　Color Value 145 ICUMSA Unit
Fine liquor
Column outlet