Sugar Industry Research Articles

Enhancing Soil Resilience and Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Yield: Mid‐Term Effects of Compost and Glauconite Integration

ABSTRACTSugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a globally significant crop, valued for its economic importance in sugar production. Saline‐sodic soil environments negatively impact sugar beet productivity. This study investigates the effects of using compost, glauconite enriched‐K and their combinations in mitigating the saline‐sodic soil environment, sugar beet productivity and extracted sugar quality. A two‐season field experiment in split‐plot design with the main plots is three doses of compost: control (C0), recommended (100%) dose (C1) and 150% recommended dose (C2). Each group divided into four subplots of glauconite treatments arranged according to the recommended dose of potassium (K) as follows: G0 (no glauconite), G1 (50% K), G2 (100% K, 480 Kg glauconite Fed−1) and G3 (150% K). The results showed that compost and glauconite mitigated adverse soil effects caused by salinity and sodicity. The C2G3 treatment reduced electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), improved organic matter and enhanced soil bulk density, porosity and penetration resistance. This combination also increased soil nutrients (N, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu). Regarding the sugar beet yield, C2G3 improved root yield, top yield, sugar yield and extracted sugar. The application of glauconite increased root diameter by 20% and root length by 23%, enhanced sugar quality with minimal sugar losses to molasses (2.43%), and reduced impurities of K, α‐amino N and Na. Principal component analysis showed positive correlations between root yield and soil potassium, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and soil porosity, with negative correlations to bulk density, EC, pH and ESP. Two‐way analysis of main (ANOM) illustrated significant effects of compost and glauconite on soil–plant interactions. Multivariate analysis indicated that higher glauconite doses significantly enhanced root yield. The Gag run charts confirmed that compost (100%) and G3 levels explored more homogeneity reducing the ESP%, increasing sugar beet root yield, sugar yield and quality.

Significance of Subsidiaries for Improving Financial Performance in the Sugar Industry: A Quantitative Analysis

One of the greatest plants today for converting solar energy into biomass and sugar is sugar cane. It is a plentiful supply of fuel, chemicals, fodder (green cane plant leaves and tops, bagasse, molasses, and to some extent press mud), food (sucrose, jaggery, and syrup), fiber (cellulose), and other nutrients. Bagasse, molasses, and press mud are the principal byproducts. Bangladesh has been farming sugarcane for the production of gud, sukker, and khandeswari since very ancient times. These sweeteners can also be made from palm and date juice. The objectives of the study were to examine the significance of subsidiaries for improving financial performance in the sugar industry. The utilization of secondary data helped researchers accomplish their goals. Multiple regression analysis will be employed to assess secondary data gathered from diverse sources in order to uncover significant predictors of the business's financial performance. The study revealed that the distillery unit significantly increases net profit every financial year, recovering losses from other units like sugar and agro-firms. The sugar division loses money each fiscal year, while the agro-farm unit gradually loses money. The fertilizer unit earns a significant profit, contributing to minimizing the losses of other units like sugar and agro-firms. Only Carew & Company (Bangladesh) Limited has a distillery plant out of the 15 sugar mills. [Keywords: Byproduct, sugar mills, distillery unit, cost minimize and sugarcane.]

Expression of Concern: Competing reactions limit production of sugars in hydrothermal hydrolysis of grass silage: an assessment of the effect of temperature on sugar production and parasitic energy demand

Expression of Concern: Competing reactions limit production of sugars in hydrothermal hydrolysis of grass silage: an assessment of the effect of temperature on sugar production and parasitic energy demand

Combined pretreatment of malic acid and kraft pulping for the production of fermentable sugars and highly active lignin

The separation and utilization of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in lignocellulosic biorefineries present significant challenges. This study proposes a pretreatment method for biomass refining by combining acid and kraft pulping. Firstly, the biomass was pretreated by malic acid, resulting in the isolation of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) with a yield of 86.26 % with optimized conditions of 180 °C, 1 wt% concentration, 40 min. Secondly, a mixture of 12.98 wt% NaOH and 1.043 wt% Na2S is employed to achieve lignin removal efficiency up to 63.42 %. Physical refinement techniques are then applied to enhance the enzyme digestion efficiency of cellulose, resulting in an increase from 55.03 % to 91.4 % for efficient cellulose conversion. The reacted samples exhibit a lignin composition rich in β-O-4 ether bonds, facilitating their high-value utilization. The results indicated that the combined pretreatment approach demonstrates high efficiency in separating cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin while obtaining XOS, highly active lignin, and enzyme-digested substrates.

Efficient Production of Fermentable Sugars from Common Reed Biomass Through Hydrothermal and Citric Acid Pretreatment Processes

Efficient Production of Fermentable Sugars from Common Reed Biomass Through Hydrothermal and Citric Acid Pretreatment Processes

Predictive modelling of HHV and LHV for sugar industry by-products: a study on sugarcane trash leaves, bagasse, and filter cake

ABSTRACT This study aimed to enhance the efficiency of by-product raw materials from the sugar industry for use as fuel. The approach involved developing an equation to calculate the higher heating value (HHV) for each type of raw material using a regression method. Additionally, a simplex-centroid mixture design (SCMD) was employed to estimate the lower heating value (LHV) based on the mixing ratios by weight of sugarcane trash leaves (SCL), sugarcane bagasse (SCB), and filter cake (FTC). The results demonstrated that the developed model accurately estimated the HHV for each raw material. The ultimate analysis showed high statistical appropriateness, with an R2 of 0.83. The standard error of estimation was 0.74 MJ/kg, and the mean absolute error was 0.76%. Furthermore, the SCMD effectively estimated the LHV of the SCL, SCB, and FTC mixture ratios, achieving an R2 of 99.77%. The evaluation and validation of the prediction equation revealed a mean absolute error of 7.57% and a mean bias error of 6.31%. The findings of this study can be used to enhance the combustion efficiency of sugar industry by-products for use as fuel by selecting the optimal mixing ratio for each type of raw material.

An Analysis of Tamil Nadu Income-Based Consumption Patterns and Consumer Behaviour for Jaggery and Khandsari Sugar: A Review

Purpose and Objectives: Markets such as Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode district Cooperative Jaggery Marketing Federation (CTEDCJMF), Selur Farmers Sugarcane Products Market (Farmers jaggery market), Pilikalpalayam and Chitthode jaggery market exclusively for jaggery and khandsari sugar, coconut and palm sugar. Methodology: Snowball sampling method was used for the data collection and also producers, visiting the market also enrolled in the study. Totally 30 producers of each sugar, 60 middlemens and 120 consumers who purchased sugar through the identified marketing channels were interviewed for the study. The data collected were analyzed to determine the cost and returns for three types of sugar. The price spread at various marketing levels, trader concentration ratios, and consumer buying behavior towards alternate forms of sugar were also examined. Principal component analysis was used to identify factors influencing consumer purchases of alternate forms of sugar. Key Findings: The results of the sample respondents showed that sample respondents of jaggery and khandsari sugar producers, majority of the sample respondents were aged between 31-40 years (33.33%) followed by 26.67 percent in the category of 20-30 years, about 23.33 per cent of the sample respondents in the producer category were aged above 50 years, followed by 16.67 per cent aged between 41-50 years. Implications: Hence, the demand for coconut sugar is very low, so promotional efforts should be made to popularize its health benefits among consumers. In the case of jaggery and khandsari sugar, product modification into cube form (similar to white sugar cubes) will increase market preference and acceptability.

Enhancing torrefaction process efficiency for biochar production from filter cake residue in the sugar industry

The torrefaction process is a promising technique for enhancing the quality of solid biomass fuels. This study investigates the effects of torrefaction on biochar produced from filter cake residue, a byproduct of the sugar industry. The primary objectives were to evaluate the impact of process parameters on biochar properties and identify optimal conditions for maximizing the higher heating value (HHV). Filter cake residue was subjected to torrefaction at temperatures ranging from 220-340°C under an inert atmosphere. The influence of particle size (20, 60, and 100 mesh), nitrogen flow rate (20-30 ml/min), temperature (220-340°C), and residence time (30-90 min) on biochar properties was examined using response surface methodology. Proximate analysis revealed that torrefaction significantly reduced moisture, volatile matter, and ash content while increasing fixed carbon content. The maximum HHV of 21.9571 MJ/kg was achieved at a particle size of 20 mesh, nitrogen flow rate of 25 ml/min, temperature of 340°C, and residence time of 60 min. The experimental results agreed with predicted values from the developed models, with an average error of 3.64%. Optimal torrefaction conditions were determined to be a particle size of 21.77 mesh, nitrogen flow rate of 22.50 ml/min, temperature of 311.13°C, and residence time of 42.58 min, yielding a maximum HHV of 18.4853 MJ/kg. These findings demonstrate the potential of torrefaction for upgrading filter cake residue into a high-quality solid biofuel, providing a sustainable solution for waste utilization in the sugar industry.

Sugarcane Cultivation Amidst Climate Change Challenges: An in-depth Review of Mitigation Strategies and Environmental Resilience

The sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) holds global significance for sugar and bioenergy production, contributing to the gross domestic product of Pakistan and generating employment. However, environmental degradation resulting from global warming, climate change, and high greenhouse gas emissions pose a critical threat to the sugarcane as well as the sugarcane industry worldwide. Developing countries, like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh are likely to be more affected because of poor adaptability and forecasting systems, high vulnerability to disasters/extreme events, and insufficient mitigation strategies. Sugarcane production is affected by shifts in climatic conditions, such as temperature, rainfall, and CO2 level, and will continue to be affected by the onset of such events, which are directly linked to geographical areas and the capacity to adapt to such changes. This paper gives a brief description of the challenges and behavior of sugarcane crops to climate change, and the future trend of climate change with respect to sugarcane production to better quantify, comprehend, and counteract the potential negative impact by enhancing the sugarcane production on a sustainable and economically viable basis.

The standardized, mechanized, and annotated body. Fragmentation as cultural technique in recent video works by Kajsa Dahlberg, Kalle Brolin, and Hanni Kamaly

ABSTRACT For several decades now, audio-visual artworks have routinely been described as “research” or “research based”. However, the relationship between image, research and theory is often unclear, particularly when the artwork in question is produced outside formal academic frameworks like practice-based PhD or MFA programs. This essay asks how we can understand and interpret artworks that use materials and methods that approximate those used by academic researchers but do so through audio-visual means. Four artworks are discussed: Kajsa Dahlberg’s Reach, Grasp, Move, Position, Apply Force (2015); Kalle Brolin’s I am Scania (2016) and I am the Sun (2018); and Hanni Kamaly’s HeadHandEye (2017/2018). All four highlight how image practices establish, reinforce, and subvert specific attitudes, ideas, and practices relating to work or the human body. The author’s key argument is that the selected artworks can be understood as examples of the media-theoretical method of analysis known as cultural techniques. Cultural techniques have been defined within media theory as the chains of operations that link humans, things, and media. The scholar who uses this perspective searches for the rules, procedures, and documented practices that preceded and directed the development and formats of specific media technologies. This essay proposes that the four selected artworks show how fragmentation operates as cultural technique in different contexts. Fragmentation is shown to be at work beneath efficiency studies of industrial workers in the early twentieth century and the early twenty-first (Dahlberg); in the relationship between the sugar industry and coal mines in the south of Sweden in the early twentieth century (Brolin); and in the de-subjectification practices among colonial rulers in the nineteenth century (Kamaly).

Flux Calculation for Primary Metabolism Reveals Changes in Allocation of Nitrogen to Different Amino Acid Families When Photorespiratory Activity Changes.

Photorespiration, caused by oxygenation of the enzyme Rubisco, is considered a wasteful process, because it reduces photosynthetic carbon gain, but it also supplies amino acids and is involved in amelioration of stress. Here, we show that a sudden increase in photorespiratory activity not only reduced carbon acquisition and production of sugars and starch, but also affected diurnal dynamics of amino acids not obviously involved in the process. Flux calculations based on diurnal metabolite profiles suggest that export of proline from leaves increases, while aspartate family members accumulate. An immense increase is observed for turnover in the cyclic reaction of glutamine synthetase/glutamine-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GS/GOGAT), probably because of increased production of ammonium in photorespiration. The hpr1-1 mutant, defective in peroxisomal hydroxypyruvate reductase, shows substantial alterations in flux, leading to a shift from the oxoglutarate to the aspartate family of amino acids. This is coupled to a massive export of asparagine, which may serve in exchange for serine between shoot and root.

Silver Jubilee Special Issue: Sustainability through Diversification in the Sugar Industry

Silver Jubilee Special Issue: Sustainability through Diversification in the Sugar Industry

Carbon Footprint and Embodied Energy for Sugar Production: A case Study of Sugar Industry, Tamil Nadu, India

Carbon Footprint and Embodied Energy for Sugar Production: A case Study of Sugar Industry, Tamil Nadu, India

In Silico Analysis and Development of the Secretory Expression of D-Psicose-3-Epimerase in Escherichia coli.

D-psicose-3-epimerase (DPEase), a key enzyme for D-psicose production, has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli with high yield. However, intracellular expression results in high downstream processing costs and greater risk of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contamination during cell disruption. The secretory expression of DPEase could minimize the number of purification steps and prevent LPS contamination, but achieving the secretion expression of DPEase in E. coli is challenging and has not been reported due to certain limitations. This study addresses these challenges by enhancing the secretion of DPEase in E. coli through computational predictions and structural analyses. Signal peptide prediction identified PelB as the most effective signal peptide for DPEase localization and enhanced solubility. Supplementary strategies included the addition of 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100 to promote protein secretion, resulting in higher extracellular DPEase (0.5 unit/mL). Low-temperature expression (20 °C) mitigated the formation of inclusion bodies, thus enhancing DPEase solubility. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of signal peptide selection in modulating DPEase solubility and activity, offering valuable insights for protein expression and secretion studies, especially for rare sugar production. Ongoing exploration of alternative signal peptides and refinement of secretion strategies promise further enhancement in enzyme secretion efficiency and process safety, paving the way for broader applications in biotechnology.

Investigation of the Incorporation and Authenticity of C4 Sugars in Natural Sugar Products Distributed in Jeju Using Carbon Isotope Ratio

Investigation of the Incorporation and Authenticity of C₄ Sugars in Natural Sugar Products Distributed in Jeju Using Carbon Isotope Ratio

Optimizing delignification and saccharification process for sawdust processing using a central composite design

AbstractLignocellulosic mass consists of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Although biomass promises to be efficiently used for biofuel production and many other value‐added products, lignin present in lignocellulosic biomass affects the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses, making it necessary to develop techniques that provide better lignin removal efficiency and high cellulose hydrolysability. The current work aims to maximize lignin removal in sawdust and develop an understanding of the hydrolysis of pretreated biomass for sugar production. Different parameters such as solvent to solid ratio, temperature, and reaction time have been considered based on the design of experiment to understand the effect on the delignification and saccharification processes. After treating sawdust for 1.5 h, it was observed that a maximum of 85% lignin was removed at a temperature of 131°C and solid loading of 16 g. Subsequent hydrolysis of delignified sawdust at 131°C temperature, solvent to solid ratio 15, and 0.5 h resulted in a maximum reducing sugar production of 26.82 mg/mL. The study elucidated the optimum conditions for the effective processing of sawdust in terms of delignification and saccharification, leading to maximum benefits in lignin removal and sugar production.

Production, purification, characterization, and safety evaluation of constructed recombinant D-psicose 3-epimerase

BackgroundD-psicose 3-epimerase (DPEase) is a potential catalytic enzyme for D-psicose production. D-psicose, also known as D-allulose, is a low-calorie sweetener that has gained considerable attention as a healthy alternative sweetener due to its notable physicochemical properties. This research focused on an in-depth investigation of the expression of the constructed DPEase gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens in Escherichia coli for D-psicose synthesis. Experimentally, this research created the recombinant enzyme, explored the optimization of gene expression systems and protein purification strategies, investigated the enzymatic characterization, and then optimized the D-psicose production. Finally, the produced D-psicose syrup underwent acute toxicity evaluation to provide scientific evidence supporting its safety.ResultsThe optimization of DPEase expression involved the utilization of Mn2+ as a cofactor, fine-tuning isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside induction, and controlling the induction temperature. The purification process was strategically designed by a nickel column and an elution buffer containing 200 mM imidazole, resulting in purified DPEase with a notable 21.03-fold increase in specific activity compared to the crude extract. The optimum D-psicose conversion conditions were at pH 7.5 and 55 °C with a final concentration of 10 mM Mn2+ addition using purified DPEase to achieve the highest D-psicose concentration of 5.60% (w/v) using 25% (w/v) of fructose concentration with a conversion rate of 22.42%. Kinetic parameters of the purified DPEase were Vmax and Km values of 28.01 mM/min and 110 mM, respectively, which demonstrated the high substrate affinity and efficiency of DPEase conversion by the binding site of the fructose-DPEase-Mn2+ structure. Strategies for maintaining stability of DPEase activity were glycerol addition and storage at -20 °C. Based on the results from the acute toxicity study, there was no toxicity to rats, supporting the safety of the mixed D-fructose–D-psicose syrup produced using recombinant DPEase.ConclusionsThese findings have direct and practical implications for the industrial-scale production of D-psicose, a valuable rare sugar with a broad range of applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This research should advance the understanding of DPEase biocatalysis and offers a roadmap for the successful scale-up production of rare sugars, opening new avenues for their utilization in various industrial processes.

Sugarcane Diseases Detection Using Optimized Convolutional Neural Network with Enhanced Environmental Adaptation Method

This research aims to address the need for accurate and prompt identification of sugarcane diseases, which substantially impact the worldwide sugar industry and the livelihoods of numerous farmers. Conventional visual inspection methods are hindered by subjective interpretations and restricted availability, prompting the investigation of more sophisticated techniques. By harnessing deep learning capabilities, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and further enhancing their performance using the Environmental Adaptation Method (EAM) optimization, this research demonstrates significant enhancements in disease detection accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-Score. Based on the macro values obtained from the different approaches, it has been observed that an accuracy of 89% was obtained for the CNN designed from EEAM in comparison to the other counter parts. Similarly, the precision of the proposed architecture of CNN is better in comparison to GA, PSO and DE. On the same lines the Recall and F1 score of the proposed approach is better in comparison to that of the three counterparts. Similarly, the ROC analysis for the analysis of AUC is done and it was identified that the AUC curve for the different CNN designed by various optimizer were good in identifying the different classes of the sugarcane diseases. The major limitation of this approach is that model has marginal accuracy with its counterpart algorithm, however, the algorithm suggested the use of simple CNN models that are easy to use. The rigorous methodology, encompassing data collection and model optimization, guarantees the reliability and applicability of the sugarcane disease detection system based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). Future research directions focus on integrating hyperspectral imaging, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and user-friendly mobile applications. This integration aims to empower farmers, facilitate proactive disease management, and ensure the sustainability of the sugarcane industry. This advancement represents notable progress in precision agriculture and disease mitigation.

Genomic characterization of bZIP gene family and patterns of gene regulation on Cercospora beticola Sacc resistance in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.).

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is one of the most important sugar crops, accounting for nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production. And it is mainly distributed in the northwestern, northern, and northeastern regions of China. However, Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) is the most serious and destructive foliar disease during the cultivation of sugar beet. In plants, the bZIP gene family is one of important family of transcription factors that regulate many biological processes, including cell and tissue differentiation, pathogen defense, light response, and abiotic stress signaling. Although the bZIP gene family has been mentioned in previous studies as playing a crucial role in plant defense against diseases, there has been no comprehensive study or functional analysis of the bZIP gene family in sugar beet with respect to biotic stresses. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of bZIP family genes (BvbZIPs) in sugar beet to investigate their phylogenetic relationships, gene structure and chromosomal localization. At the same time, we observed the stomatal and cell ultrastructure of sugar beet leaf surface during the period of infestation by Cercospora beticola Sacc (C. beticola). And identified the genes with significant differential expression in the bZIP gene family of sugar beet by qRT-PCR. Finally we determined the concentrations of SA and JA and verified the associated genes by qRT-PCR. The results showed that 48 genes were identified and gene expression analysis indicated that 6 BvbZIPs were significantly differential expressed in C. beticola infection. It is speculated that these BvbZIPs are candidate genes for regulating the response of sugar beet to CLS infection. Meanwhile, the observation stomata of sugar beet leaves infected with C. beticola revealed that there were also differences in the surface stomata of the leaves at different periods of infection. In addition, we further confirmed that the protein encoded by the SA signaling pathway-related gene BVRB_9g222570 in high-resistant varieties was PR1, which is closely related to systemic acquired resistance. One of the protein interaction modes of JA signal transduction pathway is the response of MYC2 transcription factor caused by JAZ protein degradation, and there is a molecular interaction between JA signal transduction pathway and auxin. Despite previous reports on abiotic stresses in sugar beet, this study provides very useful information for further research on the role of the sugar beet bZIP gene family in sugar beet through experiments. The above research findings can promote the development of sugar beet disease resistance breeding.

Bioactivity of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized by crude phycocyanin extract of Leptolyngbya sp. SSI24 cultivated on recycled filter cake wastes from sugar-industry

BackgroundBeet filter cake (BFC) is a food-grade solid waste produced by the sugar industry, constituting a permanent source of pollution. Cyanobacteria are considered a sustainable resource for various bioactive compounds such as phycocyanin pigment with valuable applications. This study aimed to use beet filter cake extract (BFCE) as an alternative medium for the economic cultivation of cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. SSI24 PP723083, then biorefined the bioactive component such as phycocyanin pigment that could be used in the production of selenium nanoparticles.ResultsThe results of the batch experiment displayed that the highest protein content was in BG11medium (47.9%); however, the maximum carbohydrate and lipid content were in 25% BFCE (15.25 and 10.23%, respectively). In addition, 75% BFCE medium stimulated the phycocyanin content (25.29 mg/g) with an insignificant variation compared to BG11 (22.8 mg/g). Moreover, crude phycocyanin extract from Leptolyngbya sp SSI24 cultivated on BG11 and 75% BFCE successfully produced spherical-shaped selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) with mean sizes of 95 and 96 nm in both extracts, respectively. Moreover, XRD results demonstrated that the biosynthesized Se-NPs have a crystalline nature. In addition, the Zeta potential of the biosynthesized Se-NPs equals − 17 mV and − 15.03 mV in the control and 75% BFCE treatment, respectively, indicating their stability. The biosynthesized Se-NPs exhibited higher effectiveness against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the biosynthesized Se-NPs from BG11 had higher antioxidant activity with IC50 of 60 ± 0.7 compared to 75% BFCE medium. Further, Se-NPs biosynthesized from phycocyanin extracted from Leptolyngbya sp cultivated on 75% BFCE exhibited strong anticancer activity with IC50 of 17.31 ± 0.63 µg/ml against the human breast cancer cell line.ConclusionsThe BFCE-supplemented medium can be used for the cultivation of cyanobacterial strain for the phycocyanin accumulation that is used for the green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles that have biological applications.Graphical