Seasonal chemical sucrose losses in upstream and downstream products at a cane sugar factory

Measurement of sucrose losses across a cane sugar factory are notoriously difficult to measure directly or indirectly. Six loss trials were conducted at one factory across a Louisiana processing season; per trial, 40 samples were collected across four upstream and downstream unit processes. Sucrose losses were directly measured with gas chromatography using two equations based on (1) an increase in glucose/sucrose ratios on a RDS basis across a process, or a (2) a decrease in sucrose/RDS. When actual losses were <0.5%, eq. (2) did not detect losses due to the experimental error of the method being greater than the loss. Conversely, when high sucrose losses occurred, i.e., >0.5%, sucrose losses based on eq. (1) were lower than those based on eq. (2), because concomitant acid degradation of glucose occurred. Mean season losses were 2.56% equivalent to 4.89 lbs sucrose lost per short ton of cane and USD1,404,000, with values being much higher than previously reported. Mean losses were 2%, 24.8%, 58.6%, and 14.8% across the MJ tank, clarifier, two pre-evaporators (in series), and from the pre-evaporators to the final evaporator, respectively. 53% of total season losses occurred in early season when the cane quality was worst.

Formation of Hydroxymethylfurfural in Domestic High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Its Toxicity to the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

In the United States, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has become a sucrose replacement for honey bees and has widespread use as a sweetener in many processed foods and beverages for human consumption. It is utilized by commercial beekeepers as a food for honey bees for several reasons: to promote brood production, after bees have been moved for commercial pollination, and when field-gathered nectar sources are scarce. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a heat-formed contaminant and is the most noted toxin to honey bees. Currently, there are no rapid field tests that would alert beekeepers of dangerous levels of HMF in HFCS or honey. In this study, the initial levels and the rates of formation of HMF at four temperatures were evaluated in U.S.-available HFCS samples. Different HFCS brands were analyzed and compared for acidity and metal ions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Levels of HMF in eight HFCS products were evaluated over 35 days, and the data were fit to polynomial and exponential equations, with excellent correlations. The data can be used by beekeepers to predict HMF formation on storage. Caged bee studies were conducted to evaluate the HMF dose-response effect on bee mortality. Finally, commercial bases such as lime, potash, and caustic soda were added to neutralize hydronium ion in HMF samples, and the rates of HMF formation were compared at 45 degrees C.