Application of High Electronic Field Pulses for Sugar Cane Processing

The effect of high electric field pulses (HELP) on cell disintegration of sugar cane was investigated. The sugar cane was treated at different field strength (4 to 5 kV) and pulse number (10 to 80 pulses). The juice yield as well as mass transfer of HELP pre-treated sample was measured and compared with heated (20 min, 70º C) or untreated sample. The results showed that using HELP treatment at 4 to 5 kV the sugar cane cells could be effectively disintegrated. The mass transfers of HELP treated samples were comparable to heat treated samples. The juice yield of HELP pretreated samples was higher (74.5% at 5kV, 20 pulses) than heat treated (73.2%) and untreated sugar cane (65.5%). The energy consumption for HELP disintegration of sugar cane (17 kJ/ kg at 5kV and 20 pulses) was 10 times less when compared to heat treatment (171 kJ/ kg). Additionally the cell disintegration using HELP occurred faster (less than 2 min with 1Hz pulses frequency and 80 pulses) than thermal disintegration (20 min at 70° C).

KEYWORDS: Sugar cane, high electric field pulses, juice yield

E-mail: egmne@mahidol.ac.th