CLARIFICATION OF SUGARCANE JUICE USING PEROXIDATION REACTION WITH ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT INCIDENCE

Abstract

Currently, sulphitation process is used in clarification and posterior commercial sugar production, which has created controversial relations regarding the impacts on consumers' health. Alternative methods have been widely studied to replace sulfur-based compounds. Hydrogen peroxide reaction as a clarifying agent under ultraviolet light is one of the promising and effective advanced oxidative processes (AOPs). This paper evaluated this process with sugarcane juice aiming to produce a higher value-added sugar, using two concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 mol/L) of H₂O₂ and incidence or absence of ultraviolet light. According to the results, clarification was up to 55 % when using 0.5 mol/L hydrogen peroxide concentration under the effect of UV light, thus conferring that the alternative method is viable.