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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363026
Title: Application of permanganate to reduce microbial contamination and sugar loss in raw-sugar production in Louisiana, USA

Author
item Boone, Stephanie
item IHLI, SAMUEL - Carus Corporation
item HARTSOUGH, DAN - Carus Corporation
item HERNANDEZ, LUIS - Carus Corporation
item SANDERS, JOHN - Carus Corporation
item Klasson, K Thomas
item Lima, Isabel

Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Society of Sugarcane Technologists
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2019
Publication Date: 9/2/2019
Citation: Boone, S., Ihli, S., Hartsough, D., Hernandez, L., Sanders, J., Klasson, K.T., Lima, I.M. 2019. Application of permanganate to reduce microbial contamination and sugar loss in raw-sugar production in Louisiana, USA. In: Allsopp, P. G. (ed.). Proceedings of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 30:414-423.

Interpretive Summary: During the 2016-2018 harvest seasons, some sugarcane factories in Louisiana applied permanganate to mill tandems and other factory locations. Brix, purity, pH, sugar content, microbial growth and mannitol were evaluated, in addition to manganese balance in the process. Sample collection included crusher juice, mixed juice, clarified juice, syrup and final molasses. Both laboratory and factory samples treated with permanganate indicated a reduction in microbial contamination. Leuconostoc contamination was reduced by 94% in laboratory tests and microbial load in factory mixed juice was reduced from 10E+8 CFU (2.1 OD600nm) to 10E+4.3 CFU (0.08 OD600nm). Factory treated samples also showed decreases in mannitol and increases in glucose: fructose ratio and purity. There was a statistically significant difference between treated and untreated mixed juice purity. Decreases in juice purity were reduced from 1.55% to 0.80% during permanganate application. The highest concentration of manganese was found in clarifier mud, indicating that permanganate is passively discarded from raw-sugar processing as insoluble manganese dioxide.

Technical Abstract: During the 2016-2018 harvest seasons, some sugarcane factories in Louisiana applied permanganate to mill tandems and other factory locations. Brix, purity, pH, sugar content, microbial growth and mannitol were evaluated, in addition to manganese balance in the process. Sample collection included crusher juice, mixed juice, clarified juice, syrup and final molasses. Both laboratory and factory samples treated with permanganate indicated a reduction in microbial contamination. Leuconostoc contamination was reduced by 94% in laboratory tests and microbial load in factory mixed juice was reduced from 10E+8 CFU (2.1 OD600nm) to 10E+4.3 CFU (0.08 OD600nm). Factory treated samples also showed decreases in mannitol and increases in glucose: fructose ratio and purity. There was a statistically significant difference between treated and untreated mixed juice purity. Decreases in juice purity were reduced from 1.55% to 0.80% during permanganate application. The highest concentration of manganese was found in clarifier mud, indicating that permanganate is passively discarded from raw-sugar processing as insoluble manganese dioxide.