Sugar and Starch: Carbohydrates and Sugar Industry

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Questions and Answers

What does the name 'sugar' come from?

Sanskrit word 'sarkara'

Which plant is the primary source of sugar?

Sugarcane (correct)

Sugar beet

Coconut palm

Date palm

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index compared to conventional refined sweeteners.

True

Sugarcane bagasse is a residue high in ___.

fiber Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of sugar with its plant source:

Cane Sugar = Sugar cane Beet Sugar = Sugar beet Coconut Sugar = Coconut palm sap Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the evaporation process in sugar production?

To remove water from sugar juice and increase its concentration Signup and view all the answers

The starch industry is considered one of the most important agro-industries globally.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of clarification in sugar production?

To remove impurities from sugar juice and clarify the sugar syrup. Signup and view all the answers

The __________ process involves using centrifugal force to separate sugar crystals from the remaining liquid (molasses) after crystallization.

centrifugation Signup and view all the answers

Match the starch source with its description:

Corn or maize starch = Main crop supplying over 80% of global starch market Cassava = Important source of food among Filipinos Wheat starch = Oldest commercial source of starch used in the textile industry Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of soaking the cleaned starch-rich crops in water to soften them for extraction called?

Steeping Signup and view all the answers

Maize starch powder is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry as a dry-binder.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are some common uses of corn starch/maize starch in the food and beverage industry?

thickening sauces, puddings, gravies, cakes, noodles, emulsifier for milk-products Signup and view all the answers

Bioplastics are currently made from the sugars found in ______ starch.

corn Signup and view all the answers

Match the starch product with its primary industry use:

Bioplastics = packaging, cups, straws Textile Industry = softening fabric, providing stiffness, material sizing Food And Beverage Industry = thickening sauces, puddings, cakes, noodles, emulsifier for milk-products Pharmaceutical Industry = filler, diluents, binder, disintegrant Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sugar Industry

Sugar and starches are two common forms of carbohydrates, consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1.
Sugar is a less efficient source of energy than fats and oils due to its high oxygen content.

Historical Background of Sugar Industry

Sugar was first domesticated in New Guinea around 8000 BCE.
Sugarcane cultivation spread to Southeast Asia, China, and India through seaborne traders.
Beet sugar was discovered in 1747, but was not successfully cultivated until 1870.
High-fructose corn-derived sweetener (HFCS) was commercialized in 1747.

Types and Producers of Sugar in the Philippines

Cane Sugar:
- Derived from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum).
- Used in home food sweeteners, bakery, food preservation, and others.
- Producers: Victorias Milling Company, Inc. and Universal Robina Corporation (URC).
Beet Sugar:
- Derived from the sugar beet plant (Beta vulgaris).
- Used in food processing, ethanol production, and biogas production.
Coconut Sugar:
- Derived from coconut palm sap.
- Has a lower glycemic index (35) than cane sugar.
- Produced by Greenlife Organic Coconut Sugar.

Raw Materials (Sources of Sugar)

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum):
- Tropical by origin and cultivated in warm countries.
- Contains about 80% juice, which varies in sugar content depending on area and season.
Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris spp. Vulgaris, L.):
- Second major source of sugar.
- Grown for sugar content and as a garden vegetable and fodder.
Other Sources:
- Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench): Used to produce sorghum syrup.
- Maple sap (for maple sugar): Tapped from sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum).
- Date palm sap (for date sugar): Tapped from date palm trees.
- Coconut sap (for coconut sugar): Tapped from coconut palm trees.

Products (Benefitting Industries)

Food Industry:
- Involved in the production of bread, cakes, pastries, candies, and chocolates.
- Used in fruit preserves, jams, and sweet spreads.
Beverage Industry:
- Used in soft drinks, juices, sweetened teas, and other beverages.
Chemical Industry:
- Used in tanning leather, making adhesives, and in photographic supplies.
Pharmaceutical Industry:
- Used in manufacturing polishes, cosmetics, and paper coating.

Chemical/Manufacturing Processes

Unit Operations:
- Shredding/Crushing: Breaks down sugarcane or sugar beets into smaller pieces for further processing.
- Milling: Extracts juice from shredded sugarcane or sugar beets.
- Filtration: Separates solids from liquids in sugar juice after clarification.
- Evaporation: Concentrates sugar juice by removing water.
- Crystallization: Forms sugar crystals from concentrated sugar solution.
- Centrifugation: Separates sugar crystals from remaining liquid (molasses).
- Drying/Cooling: Removes excess moisture from sugar crystals and cools them down for storage and packaging.
- Sieving: Graded sugar crystals according to size.
Unit Processes:
- Clarification: Removes impurities from sugar juice.
- Affination: Purifies sugar crystals by washing them with a sugar syrup to remove remaining impurities.

Starch Industry

Starch is a polymeric carbohydrate consisting of a chain of D-glucopyranosyl, with a general formula of (C6H10O5)n with n = 250 to over 100.
Starch is made up of two types of molecules: amylopectin (branched chain form) and amylose (linear chain form).
Starch occurs especially in seeds, bulbs, and tubers.

History of Starch Industry

3500 BC: The ancients used starch in manufacturing paper (as an adhesive and stiffener).
700-1300 AD: Starch was used in textiles, particularly in sizing and warp glazing.
1744: The English used starch in sizing and warp glazing.
1811: The discoveries of Kirchhoff with respect to glucose and the thinning of starches by enzymic action gave great impetus to starch manufacture.
1821: The use of roasted starch (dextrins) began.
1831: The first starch produced in the US was white potato starch, made at Antrim, N.H

Starch Derivatives

Soluble Starch:
- Used for finishing textiles and in the paper industry.
- Serves as a mordant in calico printing—a thickener for the colors.
Dextrin:
- Produced when starch is heated or treated with dilute acids.
- Possesses adhesive properties, used as mucilage, glue, and natural gums.
- Used in cloth printing, glazing cards, paper, and making pasteboard.
Glucose:
- Produced when starch is treated with dilute acids and hydrolyzed completely.
- Used like sugar.### Starch: Sources, Production, and Uses

Sources of Starch

Corn (maize) starch: main crop supplying over 80% of global starch market
Cassava starch: produced primarily by wet milling of fresh cassava roots
Wheat starch: used in industry for production of starch, paste, dextrose, and alcohol
Rice starch: used in laundry and sizing
Potato starch: used in instant pudding, pie fillings, sweets, and chewing gum
Sago starch: derived from stem of palms, used almost entirely for human consumption
Non-conventional sources: mango, jackfruit, litchi, longan, and loquat fruits, banana starch

Production of Starch

Steeping: soaking cleaned starch-rich crops in water to soften them for extraction
Evaporation: concentrating starch solution by removing excess water
Grinding: breaking down softened starch-rich crops to extract starch granules
Separating/Screening: separating starch granules from other components
Dewatering: removing excess water from starch slurry
Drying: reducing moisture content in concentrated starch slurry
Centrifugation: separating starch granules from remaining liquid
Concentration and Refining: purifying starch through centrifugation, filtration, and drying

Products and Industries

Food and Beverage Industry

Used as thickening agent in sauces, puddings, and gravies
Improves texture and tenderness of cakes
Used as emulsifier for milk-products and filling for food items

Bioplastics

Made from sugars in corn starch, biodegradable, carbon-neutral, and edible
Used in disposable items like packaging, cups, and straws

Pharmaceutical Industry

Used as filler, diluent, humectant, binder, and disintegrant
Enables capsules and tablets to break down for easy absorption

Paper Industry

Used to enhance bonding strength of paper and corrugated boxes

Textile Industry

Used to soften fabric and provide required stiffness
Enhances strength of warp yarn and used in material sizing

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Description

Learn about sugar and starch, two common forms of carbohydrates, and the sugar industry, including production, processing, and marketing of sugars.