Experiences with the objective detection of deteriorated sugar beet

Abstract

With increasing sugar beet campaign length over the last years, a range of measures were implemented in Austria in order to improve the processing of deteriorated beet. Consequently, possibilities for the objective detection and evaluation of beet quality were tested. This included an image analyzer, which detects the share of dark-colored beets on the belt conveyor, determination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) above the cossette conveyor belt by means of a flame ionization detector as well as the determination of glucose in raw juice and an automated determination system of the optimum end point of the 1st carbonation and effective alkalinity in juices in juice purification. Apart from discussing the technical set-up of the measurement systems also the possibilities how to use the information for operating the process, e.g. for optimizing the application of dextranase or the amount of milk of lime in juice purification, are presented. These systems, which were originally developed and tested in Austria in the factory Tulln, are now being implemented bit by bit also in other factories of the AGRANA Sugar Division.