Sugar purification by MEGA electrodialysis

Why choose MEGA electrodialysis technology

Electrodialysis is a very efficient technology for food solutions desalination with low energy and chemicals consumption.

The electrodialysis solution by MEGA is universal and can process different saccharides as Galactooligosaccharides – GOS, Fructooligosaccharides – FOS, Chitooligosaccharides – COS, Xylooligosaccharides – XOS, Isomaltooligosaccharides – IMO or Soybean oligosaccharides – SOS.

MEGA electrodialysis is adapted to perform the final purification of sugar solution by decolourising, deodorising, deacidifying or thickening the sugar cane/beet juice, which ensures maximum removal of unwanted impurities.

MEGA offers electrodialysis as a demineralization step after filtration in sugar processing. In combination with IEX, ED can be more advantageous regarding the required ions and product quality, while at the same time achieving lower water and chemical consumption.

MEGA ED – cost-effective solution for sugar purification

MEGA offers electrodialysis technology for higher purity product with lower energy consumption and chemicals processing technology that increases yield, reduces cost and is environmentally friendly.

The electrodialysis improves the cost-effectiveness of sugar factories by:

• controlling of organic fouling,
• reduction of chemical consumption,
• environmentally friendly technology - reducing waste effluents and pollution loads,
• reducing costs for water treatment,
• improving sugar yields,
• reducing the volume of molasses,
• saving capital costs,
• recovery & re-use of ions like P, Mg, Mo, Ni.

Final product of high quality with low protein content and low colour and high colour stability. Demineralized saccharides are a new source of profit and supplementary nutrition. It is a very beneficial ingredient used in many foods and pharmaceutical products.

Electrodialysis in the sugar purification process

Electrodialysis is an electrochemical separation process in which ions from the treated liquid are transferred through ion-exchange membranes from one solution (feed/diluate) to another solution (brine/concentrate) under the influence of DC voltage. The charged components are attracted to the cathode or anode and collected in the concentrate stream. The product - organic non-ionic compounds are retained in the diluate stream.

Unwanted by-products of chemical and/or enzymatic conversion can be therefore easily removed.

In addition, the removed components could be often recovered and returned to the reaction stage as required reactant or catalyst or pH controlling agent.