Fangxue Hang

Analysis of Sedimentary Components in Post-haze Concentrated Sugarcane Juice

The development of post-haze in concentrated sugarcane juice (CSJ) during storage is a common problem which appears sporadically and usually without obvious cause. In the current study, sediment components in hazed CSJ were investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the sediment was primarily composed of organic materials. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that polysaccharides, proteins, esters, colloids, and polyphenols were the primary components of the sediment. Scanning electron micrographs and energy-diffusive X-ray spectra also indicated that the sediment was mainly composed of organic materials. A small amount of inorganic elements, such as Na, Mg, Al, Si, and S, were also found in the sediment. Moreover, CaCO3 crystal was unexpectedly detected in the sediment. This study is the first to investigate the components of sediment in hazed CSJ.