Milica R. Nićetin

Comparison of methods of zeta potential and residual turbidity of pectin solutions using calcium sulphate/aluminium sulphate as a precipitant

The affinity of calcium ion binding from CaO used in the most common process of purification of sugar beet juice is relatively low. Therefore, large amounts of this compound are required. This paper presents the theoretical basis of a novel sugar beet juice purification method based on the application of the binary system CaSO4/Al2(SO4) . In order to monitor the process of coagulation and precipitation of pectin in the presence of CaSO4/Al2(SO4)3, two methods were compared: measurement of the zeta potential and of residual solution turbidity. The zeta potential of pectin solution was determined by electrophoretic method, while the residual turbidity was determined by spectrophotometry. Two model solutions of pectin (0.1 % w/w) were investigated. Studies were performed with 10 different concentrations of the binary solution CaSO4/Al2(SO4)3 (50 500 g dm). The amount of the precipitant CaSO4/Al2(SO4)3 (1:1 w/w) needed to achieve the minimum solution turbidity and charge neutralization of pectin particles (zero zeta potential) were measured and compared. Colloidal destabilization occurred before a complete neutralization of the surface charge of pectin particles (zeta potential ~ 0 mV). Optimal quantities (490 705 mg g pectin) of the applied binary mixture, were obtained using both methods. This is much lower than the amount of CaO that is commonly used in the conventional process of sugar beet juice purification (about 9 g· g pectin). The use of these precipitants could be important from both economic and environmental point of view.

CaSO4 and cationic polyelectrolyte as possible pectin precipitants in sugar beet juice clarification

Three pectin preparations were isolated from fresh sugar beet pulp during the 150 minutes of extraction, at pH values of 1, 3.5 and 8.5. CaSO4 precipitant was added to 100 cm3 of 0.1% (wt) solution of pectin. Studies were performed with 9 different concentrations of CaSO4 solution (50-450 mg dm-3) with the addition of a cationic polyelectrolyte (cationic PAM) in concentrations of 3 and 5 mg dm-3. The efficiency of pectin precipitation was monitored by measuring the zeta potential of pectin preparations. Optimal amounts of precipitant CaSO4, without the use of a cationic polyelectrolyte, were as follows: 490-678 mg CaSO4/g pectin. After the use of a cationic polyelectrolyte, the optimal amounts of CaSO4 were smaller (353-512 mg/g pectin). These quantities are significantly lower than the average amount of CaO used in the conventional clarification process of sugar beet juice (about 9 g/g pectin of sugar beet juice). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR -31055]

Re-use of Osmotic Solution OF OSMOTIC SOLUTION

In this paper the re-use of osmotic solution after osmotic treatment has been studied. A large amount of used osmotic solution remaining after the process is one of the major unsolved problems of osmotic treatment process. This problem has both ecological and economic aspects that should be concerned.Pork meat cubes were treated in three different osmotic solutions diluted with distilled water (R1 -sugar beet molasses, R2 – solution of salt and sucrose and R3 - combination of R1 and R2 solutions in a 1:1 mass ratio). Osmotic process has been observed during 5 hours, at temperature of 35oC and atmospheric pressure. Osmotic treatment has been performed simultaneously in concentrated solutions and diluted solutions (dilutions were obtained by mixing the solution and water in the mass ratio of 7:1 and 3:1). Parameters monitored during osmotic treatment were: dry mater content (DMC), water loss (WL), solid gain (SG) and osmotic dehydration efficiency index (DEI).Maximum values of these parameters were obtained in the dehydration with concentrated solutions, while recorded values in diluted solutions were much lower.The results show that the least effect on the osmotic process efficiency, when the osmotic concentration is lowered, has been observed for solution R3. This conclusion indicates that molasses is good osmotic solution with the possibility of re-using in successive processes of osmotic dehydration, with minimal treatment of reconstitution to original values of concentration.