|
Abstract: The extent to which it is possible to predict sugar beet alkalinity reserves from the results of beet analyses was tested with 58 beet samples. The effective alkalinity in the filtrate following first carbonatation served as the measure of the alkalinity reserves. The beet samples were prepared on a laboratory scale, and an appropriate procedure for preparation is described. Multiple linear regression equations are used to show the relationships between effective alkalinity and potassium, sodium, alpha-amino acid nitrogen, glucose, fructose, chloride and nitrate contents. Satisfactory results were obtained only after taking glucose ande fructose into account. Inclusion of the chloride and nitrate content brought no substantial improvement. In the beet material tested, a clear correlation existed between the alkali content, on the one hand, and chloride and nitrate, on the other. An equation is presented to calculate the alkalinity reserves from the potassium, sodium and alpha-amino acid nitrogen contents as well as total glucose and fructose. The paper discusses its sphere and possibilities of application in comparison with other equations and the role of alkali ions in connection with beet anions not precipitable by calcium ions.
|