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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306736
Title: Use of activated carbons to remove undesirable residual amylase from factory and refinery streams

Author
item Eggleston, Gillian
item VAWDA, AHMED - Carboua International
item Zatlokovicz Iii, John
item Lima, Isabel
item St Cyr, Eldwin

Submitted to: Sugar Industry Technologists Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2014
Publication Date: 10/1/2014
Citation: Eggleston, G., Vawda, A., Zatlokovicz Iii, J., Lima, I.M., St Cyr, E.L. 2014. Use of activated carbons to remove undesirable residual amylase from factory and refinery streams. In: Proceedings of the 2014 Sugar Industry Technologists Meeting, Toronto, Canada. Vol. LXXIII:330-342.

Interpretive Summary: In recent years, there has been increased world-wide concern over residual (carry-over) activity of amylases in white, refined sugars from refineries sold to various food and end-user industries. There was an urgent need in the sugar industry to be able to remove or inactivate residual, active amylases either in factory or refinery streams or both. Powdered activated carbons had the ability to remove residual amylase protein, and this was dependent on the surface area of the activated carbons as well as mixing (retention) time. The activated carbon also had the additional benefit of removing color and insoluble starch.

Technical Abstract: In recent years, there has been increased world-wide concern over residual (carry-over) activity of mostly high temperature (HT) and very high temperature (VHT) stable amylases in white, refined sugars from refineries to various food and end-user industries. HT and VHT stable amylases were developed for much larger markets than the sugar industry with harsher processing conditions. There is an urgent need in the sugar industry to be able to remove or inactivate residual, active amylases either in factory or refinery streams or both. A survey of refineries that used amylase and had activated carbon systems for decolorizing, revealed they did not have any customer complaints for residual amylase. The use of activated carbons to remove residual activity was investigated using a Phadebas® method created for the sugar industry to measure residual amylase in syrups. Ability to remove residual amylase protein was dependent on the surface area of the powdered activated carbons as well as mixing (retention) time. The activated carbon also had the additional benefit of removing color and insoluble starch.