Improved processes for extracting water soluble nutrients including sugars from plants and in particular sugar cane. The plants may be washed with a wash solution. After washing, water soluble nutrient containing liquid is extracted from the plants. A diluted wash solution may be added to the crushed plants to improve the extraction of the water soluble nutrients. The wash solution may be added to the liquid collected during the extraction to improve the separation of impurities from the nutrient containing liquid. The extracted liquid may demonstrate at least one of improved purity, improved clarity, improved filtration times, improved whiteness, and improved total recovered water soluble nutrients.

Improved processes for extracting water soluble nutrients including sugars from plants and in particular sugar cane. The plants may be washed with a wash solution. After washing, water soluble nutrient containing liquid is extracted from the plants. A diluted wash solution may be added to the crushed plants to improve the extraction of the water soluble nutrients. The wash solution may be added to the liquid collected during the extraction to improve the separation of impurities from the nutrient containing liquid. The extracted liquid may demonstrate at least one of improved purity, improved clarity, improved filtration times, improved whiteness, and improved total recovered water soluble nutrients.

A method for cultivation and processing of sugar beets the includes steps of: providing the sugar beets and/or sugar beet seedlings in a first step; supplying the sugar beets and/or the sugar beet seedlings with a nutrient solution during growth in a second step; harvesting at least partially fully grown sugar beets in a third step; processing the harvested sugar beets in a sugar production plant in order to extract sugar from the sugar beets in a fourth step; the nutrient solution used in the second step is at least partially obtained by recovering water in the fourth step which is recycled in the second step.

A method for cultivation and processing of sugar beets the includes steps of: providing the sugar beets and/or sugar beet seedlings in a first step; supplying the sugar beets and/or the sugar beet seedlings with a nutrient solution during growth in a second step; harvesting at least partially fully grown sugar beets in a third step; processing the harvested sugar beets in a sugar production plant in order to extract sugar from the sugar beets in a fourth step; the nutrient solution used in the second step is at least partially obtained by recovering water in the fourth step which is recycled in the second step.

A crystal comestible product and method of making it are provided. The crystal comestible product is suitable for use as a food additive, a flavor additive, a nutritional additive, and decoration. The crystal comestible product includes a matrix of edible crystals surrounding air pockets and free spaces, providing a light crunchy crispy texture. The crystal comestible product may include ingredients that add flavor, color, nutritional value, texture, structure, or stability. Suitable ingredients include fresh herbs, fresh flowers, spices, natural and synthetic flavors, nuts, vitamins and minerals.

A system can be used to process liquid materials, such as aqueous-based syrup solutions containing sugar molecules. In some examples, the system includes a processing vessel having multiple individually-controllable temperature zones arranged in series. In operation, an aqueous solution can be introduced into an inlet port of the processing vessel and passed sequentially through the series of temperature zones. Water from the aqueous solution can be evaporated within the initial stage(s) of the processing vessel to form a concentrated solution that is then cooled in subsequent stage(s). Accordingly, a supersaturated solution may be formed from the aqueous solution in the processing vessel that is then solidified to subsequently form a substantially dry solid material (e.g., sugar), still within the processing vessel. The substantially dry solid material can discharge through an exit port of the processing vessel.

A system can be used to process liquid materials, such as aqueous-based syrup solutions containing sugar molecules. In some examples, the system includes a processing vessel having multiple individually-controllable temperature zones arranged in series. In operation, an aqueous solution can be introduced into an inlet port of the processing vessel and passed sequentially through the series of temperature zones. Water from the aqueous solution can be evaporated within the initial stage(s) of the processing vessel to form a concentrated solution that is then cooled in subsequent stage(s). Accordingly, a supersaturated solution may be formed from the aqueous solution in the processing vessel that is then solidified to subsequently form a substantially dry solid material (e.g., sugar), still within the processing vessel. The substantially dry solid material can discharge through an exit port of the processing vessel.

A method of producing a sugar liquid from biomass includes decomposing a fermentation inhibitor contained in a sugar aqueous solution obtained from biomass with a microorganism incapable of utilizing glucose and/or xylose or a crude enzyme derived from the microorganism, wherein the fermentation inhibitor includes one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of courmaric acid, coumaramide, ferulic acid, ferulamide, vanillin, vanillic acid, acetovanillone, furfural, and 3-hydroxymethylfurfural.

A stirrer for a crystallizing evaporator such a crystallizing evaporator for crystallizing sucrose from concentrated beet juice. The stirrer includes at least one active flow-conducting means selected from a group consisting of a plurality of flow-conducting propellers arranged along a shaft of the stirrer and a screw running along the shaft.

PURPOSE: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a sugar crystal-containing liquid with good reproducibility, wherein crystallization is enhanced, it is unnecessary to add seed crystals which may affect the number of grains and a size of the crystals, and graining conditions are stable. CONSTITUTION: The present invention is a method for producing a sugar crystal-containing liquid, wherein the method comprises steps of preparing a liquid supersaturated with sugar; and applying a shearing force to the liquid, characterized in that the step of applying the shearing force comprises exerting a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure on the liquid to make the liquid pass through a narrow space.