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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183641
Title: PREDICTING PROCESSING PROBLEMS FROM DETERIORATED SUGARCANE: A FACTORY METHOD TO MEASURE MANNITOL

Author
item Eggleston, Gillian
item Karr, Jacob
item Harper, William
item LEGENDRE, BENJAMIN - LSU AG. CENTER
item PARRIS, TONY - IBERIA SUGAR COOP.,INC.

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2005
Publication Date: 6/1/2005
Citation: Eggleston, G., Karr, J., Harper, W., Legendre, B., Parris, T. 2005. Predicting processing problems from deteriorated sugarcane: A factory method to measure mannitol [abstract]. Sugar Journal. 68(1):32.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mannitol, formed by Leuconostoc bacteria, is a very sensitive indicator of sugarcane deterioration that directly affects processing and can predict problems from dextran and levan polysaccharides. An enzymatic method has been developed to measure mannitol in juice pressed from consignments of sugarcane delivered to the factory. This quantitative screening tool will allow factory staff to rapidly know which consignments of cane will affect processing negatively or reject consignments that will cause unacceptable processing problems. Mannitol is directly measured on a spectrophotometer using mannitol dehydrogenase as the enzyme catalyst. The stability of the reagents, limited cane juice preparation and linearity are described. This method is precise, accurate, compares favorably with an ion chromatography method, and can be easily performed using existing equipment in sugarcane factories. Mannitol can be measured after ~7 min at room temperature and within 4 min if a 40 degrees C waterbath is used. The method is highly specific for mannitol and was not affected by the presence of sucrose, glucose, fructose, or dextran. The current cost is only ~60 U.S. cents per analysis. The relationship of mannitol with Haze dextran in pressed and crusher juices, and raw sugars, collected across the 2004 grinding season of a Louisiana factory is reported.