Investigating compositional and sulfite content variability in a range of sug-ar types using comparative analytical methodologies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20873/jbb.uft.cemaf.v14n2.21350Keywords:
crystal sugar, sulfite, ICUMSA, Monier-Williams, sugarcane, compositional analysisAbstract
Sugar production, with sugarcane as its primary raw material, positions Brazil as a global leader in crystal sugar output. During the sugarcane processing stages, sulfur derivatives, such as sulfite, are used as clarifying agents in white sugar production. The analysis of crystal sugar samples revealed their compliance with current legislation regarding parameters like conductivity ash, color, polarization, and insoluble mineral residue. However, the official ICUMSA methodology for sulfite analysis was tested against an alternative method based on the Monier-Williams reaction. The results obtained with the alternative method showed significantly higher sulfite values compared to the official method. Hot reflux distillation, used in the Monier-Williams method, demonstrated that the samples contained elevated sulfite levels, up to 6.9 (raw VHP), 25.8 (white type 1), and 13.9 (white type 2) times greater. The difference in results can be attributed to the fact that the hot reflux distillation process may promote the conversion of other sulfur derivatives present in the sample into sulfite, thus overestimating the values when compared to the official method. This finding showed that both methodologies are applicable, provided the analytical necessity is indicated, i.e., whether only sulfite levels or the totality of sulfur forms present in the sugar samples are required.
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