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Pollach, G.; Hein, W.; Rösner, G.; Berninger, H.: Assessment of beet quality including Rhizomania-infected beet. Zuckerindustrie 116 (1991) pp. 689-700.   List of papers

Abstract: There was a need to ascertain whether the formula used in Austria to predict molasses sugar from beet analysis would also prove suitable for rhizomania beet. With this aim, such beet were processed to laboratory thick juice. Calculated according to the valid formula for Austrian beet, molasses purities of 65 to 70 % were obtained from the purity of the thick juice and from molasses nonsugars, but these were not even partly reached by the saturation of molasses with KCl and NaCl. The existing formula thus seemed to result in molasses sugar values being too high and therefore we considered the possibility of calculating molasses sugar via the total nonsugars (NZ/Z). With the aid of multiple regression, using K, Na, Alpha-N and glucose+fructose (GF), the ratio of NZ/Z in thick juice was calculated. Compared with the alkalies, the component Alpha-amino- acid-nitrogen enters this equation with a factor which is approximately twice as high. An evaluation of other author's primary data results in similar factors. Calculation of the beet-related molasses non-sugar can be undertaken by multiplication of the calculated ratio NZ/Z in the thick juice by the difference between the beet sugar content and a loss component of 0.6 %. With the help of colleagues from the sugar industry it was possible to collect 17 molasses from Europe and overseas and to exhaust them under standard conditions. A Z/NZ ration of 1.4 was found for about half of the molasses samples having a relatively low Ca-content. Where the decalcification of juices and a continuous operation of the evaporating station is defined as standard technology, it is possible to recommend this value as a factor for the calculation of molasses sugar from molasses nonsugar. With higher Ca-contents it would be necessary to include additional information regarding Ca/NZ in the formula, but this is largely dependent on technology and not on raw material. We propose to try to obtain a beet quality assessment on the basis of the molasses nonsugar, which must be designated as "harmful nonsugar". The sugar yield reduction due to molasses sugar which has been hitherto assessed is only one of the negative consequences of the molasses nonsugar.   Paper quotation