Enzyme improves sugar beet processing

SternEnzym GmbH & Co. KG in Ahrensburg offers the sugar industry a new enzyme compound that solves microbial contamination in sugar beets.

The presence of the polysaccharides, dextran and levan often causes problems during sugar production. During and after harvesting, microorganisms produce these polysaccharides from the sucrose present in beet juices. The new agent “Sugazym Quickmove” from SternEnzym eliminates issues associated with dextran and levan, ensuring a better final sugar quality.

Microbial contamination in sugar beets is due to factors such as long storage periods and the amount of injuries on the beet surface. The quality of sugar beets is more and more often impaired by weather extremes.

Freeze-thaw cycles and drought cause beet cell damages that lead to microbial contamination. The occurrence of more frequent droughts in recent years causes microbial polysaccharides.

The presence of dextran and levan in beet juices increases viscosity that slows down filtration and crystallisation. The microorganisms form slime that impedes the flow of the sugar juice during filtration, and then impacts the subsequent processing steps. At worst, the filter machines are completely blocked. Dextran and levan also cause sugar crystals to deform.

To address these issues, SternEnzym’s applications research team at the Stern-Technology Center in Ahrensburg conducted a comprehensive study on microbial contamination in sugar beets. Samples from different sugar beet factories were analysed for microorganism profile, which permitted conclusions about the existing polysaccharides.

Based on numerous tests, the team developed the enzyme compound “Sugazym Quickmove” which can hydrolyse polysaccharides such as dextran and levan and thus remove them from the sugar production process. Timely use of the enzyme compound in the cossette mash can eliminate increased viscosity and crystal deformation during the process. This can already be achieved using a relatively low enzyme dosage of only 5 ppm and an incubation time of 10 to 20 minutes. The company has applied for a patent for this development.

SternEnzym will present its product range at FIE 2019 at the Paris Exhibition Centre in Hall 06, Stand D90.