| Abstract:
Palm kernel fatty acids and especially the most effective myristic
acid are presented for the sugar industry, which could be used as
natural antibacterial aids to displace adapted strains. After a survey
of existing literature, results of laboratory trials were carried out
to demonstrate the mechanism of action, as well as influences of
chain length, temperature, pH value, etc. Further, results from
full-scale factory trials during the beet campaigns 2002 and 2003
are presented. During 2002, a rosin-insensitive strain occurred in
a beet extraction tower and could be eliminated by shock dosing
of myristic acid. This result already stresses the importance of
natural alternatives for elimination of adapted strains, to keep the
level of fermentation low in every case. In 2003 satisfactory effects
were achieved with myristic acid in two other Agrana factories.
The new product is precipitable with calcium and mainly removed
from the process stream via pulp, lime sludge and molasses.
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