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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #281183
Title: How combine harvesting of green cane billets with different levels of trash affects production and processing. Part II: Pilot plant processing to sugar

Author
item Eggleston, Gillian
item BIRKETT, H - Audubon Sugar Institute
item GAY, J - St Louis Planting Inc
item LEGENDRE, B - Audubon Sugar Institute
item JACKSON, W - American Sugar Cane League
item SCHUDMAK, C - Cora Texas Factory
item MONGE, A - Cora Texas Factory
item Andrzejewski, Brett
item Viator, Ryan
item CHARLET, T - Cora Texas Factory

Submitted to: International Sugar Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2011
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Eggleston, G., Birkett, H., Gay, J., Legendre, B., Jackson, W., Schudmak, C., Monge, A., Andrzejewski, B., Viator, R., Charlet, T. 2012. How combine harvesting of green cane billets with different levels of trash affects production and processing. Part II: Pilot plant processing to sugar. International Sugar Journal. 114(1359):169-178.

Interpretive Summary: New refineries in the U.S. are requesting sugarcane factories to deliver very high pol/very low color (VHP/VLC) raw sugar with low ash concentrations and will give premiums for the higher quality. A comprehensive factory trash trial was conducted in Louisiana to determine how different speeds of the extractor fans on combine harvesters affect trash levels of green billets from a commercial sugarcane variety, as well as upstream and downstream processing with the help of a pilot plant. Most processing parameters, including fiber, soluble solids, sucrose, color, ash, starch, percent extraction, processing rate, and mud volume became progressively worse with increased trash levels and decreased fan speed. Total trash levels between 18.9 and 22.7% impeded the manufacture of VHP/VLC for a refinery. Optimal fan speeds were found for both growers and processors.

Technical Abstract: New refineries in Louisiana, USA are requesting Louisiana sugarcane factories to deliver very high pol/very low color (VHP/VLC) raw sugar with low ash concentrations. This higher quality raw sugar will allow both growers and factory processors to share economic premiums from the new refineries. A comprehensive factory trash trial was conducted in Louisiana to determine how different speeds of the extractor fans on two combine harvesters (John Deere 3500 and 3510 models) affect trash levels of green billets from L 99-226 commercial sugarcane variety (ripener treated) as well as upstream and downstream processing. Fan speeds of 1050, 850 and 650 rpm were studied on Days 1, 2, and 3 (20-22 Nov, 2010), respectively, at a constant ground speed of 3.5 mph. Total trash levels (growing point region+green leaves+brown leaves) were 12.1, 18.9 and 22.7% for the 1050, 850, and 650 rpm fan speeds, respectively, and significantly (P<0.05) different. Sufficient cane of each treatment (24-27 truck loads) was harvested and processed each day to purge the tandem mill of other cane and to process the selected cane for a total of ~30 min. A bulk sample of mixed juice (MJ) was transported to the USDA-ARS-SRRC pilot plant in New Orleans to produce clarified juice, syrup, A-massecuites, A-molasses, A-raw, and affined sugars. Most quality and processing parameters, including soluble solids, sucrose, color, ash, starch, and mud volume during clarification became progressively worse with increased trash levels and decreased fan speed. For every 1% increase in trash there was an approximate 0.13-0.21% decrease in MJ purity. Furthermore, purity of subsequent raw sugar became progressively worse with increased trash levels. Total trash levels between 18.9 and 22.7% from 850 to 650 rpm fan speeds, respectively, impeded the manufacture of VHP/VLC for a refinery, but the types of trash tissues influenced the raw sugar color, particularly the growing point region. Overall, at 650 rpm fan speed, VHP sugar (<2200 CU) cannot be commercially attained for L 99-226 in late November. Net proceeds to the grower were optimal for both growers and processors at the 850 rpm setting. More data are still needed for L 99-226 and other varieties, especially early in the Louisiana processing season when trash levels are considerably higher.