The Journey of Sugar Beets: From Harvest to Sugar Production
Discover the fascinating process that sugar beets undergo after harvest for sugar production.
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After sugar beets are harvested, they are transported to processing facilities where they are washed to remove dirt and debris. The clean beets are sliced into thin strips, known as cossettes, and then they are subjected to a diffusion process to extract the sugar. The extracted sugar juice is purified and concentrated to produce crystallized sugar, which is the main product. By-products, such as beet pulp and molasses, are utilized as animal feed or in other industrial applications, maximizing the use of resources.
FAQs & Answers
- What is the first step after sugar beets are harvested? After harvesting, sugar beets are transported to processing facilities where they are washed to remove dirt and debris.
- How is sugar extracted from sugar beets? The clean sugar beets are sliced into thin strips, called cossettes, and then subjected to a diffusion process to extract the sugar.
- What happens to the sugar juice after extraction? The extracted sugar juice is purified and concentrated to produce crystallized sugar, which is the primary product of the sugar beet processing.
- What are the by-products of sugar beet processing? By-products like beet pulp and molasses are utilized as animal feed or in various industrial applications to maximize resource usage.