RU2765487C1 - Method for obtaining betaine and sucrose out of molasses - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the sugar industry of the food industry. The molasses processing method involves diluting molasses with water to 10% of solids and dividing it into fractions using baromembrane technologies as a result of sequentially performed microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0.1 microns to separate high-molecular protein substances, reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate minerals: from potassium at pore sizes of 0.000472 microns, from calcium at pore sizes of 0.000394 microns, from sodium (Na) at pore sizes 0.000378 microns, ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes for separation: sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns, betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns. Acidification to pH < 6 or alkalinization to pH > 7 of the molasses fraction with betaine is carried out. Next, electrolysis is carried out as a result of passing an electric current through a molasses fraction with betaine at a current density of 10-15 mA/cm3 and a temperature of 20-40°C. For the maximum possible purification from minerals, the molasses fraction with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis as a result of passing an electric current at a current density of no more than 10 mA/cm3 and a temperature of no more than 40°C.

EFFECT: invention allows for deeper processing of sugar beet using electrolysis and baromembrane processes: microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis with the possibility of significantly increasing the yield of sucrose and obtaining a biologically active substance - betaine.

1 cl, 2 dwg, 1 tbl, 4 ex

Description

The invention relates to the sugar branch of the food industry, namely, to the processing of the main by-product of sugar beet production, molasses, with the possibility of separating betaine and sucrose from it.

The invention allows for a deeper processing of sugar beets using electrolysis and baromembrane processes (microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis) with the possibility of significantly increasing the yield of sucrose and obtaining a biologically active substance - betaine, which can be used in the food industry as an additive, as well as in medicine and cosmetology.

A known method for producing sugar from beets, including the following sequential technological processes [Sapronov, A.R. Technology of sugar production / A.R. Sapronov. - M.: Kolos, 1999. - 494 p.]:

- collection and transportation of beets to production;

- purification of raw materials from dirt and metal objects;

- production of shavings from beets;

- obtaining and purification of diffusion juice;

- evaporation of the juice to the state of syrup;

- processing of syrup into a crystalline mass - massecuite I;

- obtaining crystalline sugar and molasses from massecuite I;

- evaporation of molasses into massecuite II, its separation into molasses and yellow sugar;

- purification of yellow sugar;

- Packing and packaging of granulated sugar.

The disadvantage of the known method of obtaining beet sugar is the low yield of sugar and unsatisfactory consumer characteristics of the finished product - sugar. The yield of sugar is low due to the large amount of minerals contained in sugar beets (potassium ions, sodium ions, calcium ions, etc.), as well as alpha-amine nitrogen (α-amine nitrogen - protein, ammonia and amide nitrogen). Minerals and alpha-amine nitrogen (protein, ammonia and amide nitrogen) contribute to the formation of a large amount of molasses - a by-product of sugar production, which contains more than 50% sucrose in dry matter.

It should be noted that the radii of sodium, potassium and calcium are 0.189, 0.236 and 0.197 nm (or 0.000189 0.000236, 0.000197 μm), and their diameters are 0.378, 0.472 and 0.394 nm (or 0.000378, 0, 000472 and 0.000394 µm), respectively.

Closest to the proposed invention is a method for producing betaine and sucrose from molasses [Heikki Heikkila. Method for obtaining betaine and sucrose from molasses // Patent No. 2054045 C1, RU, IPC ⁷ С07С 227/00, С07С 227/28, С07С 227/40, С07С 229/12, C13D 3/14, C13J 1/06, C13K 13 /00 / Heikki Heikkila, Geran Huekyu, Yarmo Kyuisma; application No. 4614225/13; applicant Kultor Ltd. (FI). - dec. 06/08/1989; publ. 02/10/1996 // State Register of Inventions of the Russian Federation. - 1996.] - a prototype providing for dilution of molasses with water, chromatographic separation of diluted molasses by feeding it into a column with a cation exchange resin, supplying water, eluting betaine, sucrose and residual molasses fractions with water and separating betaine and sucrose from product fractions, characterized in that that the chromatography process is carried out on at least three columns connected in series, operating on the principle of a pseudo-moving working layer, by circulating a dilute molasses solution through them, while supplying it to one column, supplying eluting water to the next column in the direction of flow and collecting fractions of betaine, sucrose and residual molasses solution from other columns in the steady state are carried out simultaneously, and these techniques are repeated one or more times during one cycle. The flow rate of the solution in the columns is 0.5-10.0 m ³ /h/m ² and the temperature of the initial solution of molasses and eluting water is 40-85°C.

The disadvantage of the known method for obtaining betaine and sucrose from molasses is, first of all, the complexity of this method, as well as its high cost. The complexity lies in the complex technological multi-stage nature of the method under consideration. An expensive and demanding chromatographic method is used to separate the components of molasses in a fluidized bed using expensive chromatographic columns and ion exchange resins, which are not always available. The completeness of the separation of the molasses components using this method is incomplete, and in many respects partial (conditional). Finished products contain a large number of impurities. When using only cation exchange resin, it is not possible to completely separate mineral substances from finished products. It is also difficult to separate the betaine fraction from other associated nitrogen-containing substances, which are zwitterions.

Thus, the technical problem to be solved by this invention is the development of an innovative method for obtaining betaine and sucrose from molasses, which allows using modern technological methods (electrolysis and baromembrane processes: microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis) to carry out the maximum possible deep processing of sugar beet with the possibility of isolating the biologically active component of betaine, as well as sucrose, from the by-product of beet sugar production of molasses.

The solution of the technical problem is achieved by the fact that the method of obtaining betaine and sucrose from molasses, which involves diluting molasses with water and separating it into fractions, differs in that I dilute molasses with water to 10% dry matter, separate the components of molasses using baromembrane technologies as a result of sequentially carried out : microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0.1 µm to separate macromolecular substances (proteins and proteins), reverse osmosis using membranes with a pore size of 0.001-0.0001 µm to separate minerals: from potassium with a pore size of 0 .000472 µm or more, from calcium with a pore size of 0.000394 µm or more, from sodium (Na) with a pore size of 0.000378 µm or more, ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes with a pore size of 0.01-0.1 µm for separation: sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns or more, betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns or more, acidification is carried out to pH> 6 (about optimally to pH≥2.3) or alkalization to pH<6 (optimally to pH≤9.6) of the molasses fraction with betaine, then electrolysis is carried out as a result of passing electric current through the molasses fraction with betaine at a current density of 10-15 mA/cm ³ and temperature 20-40°C; for the maximum possible stonecrop from mineral substances, the molasses fraction with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis as a result of passing electric current at a current density of not more than 10 mA / cm ³ and a temperature of not more than 40 ° C

) или кормовая патока - сиропообразная жидкость темно-бурого цвета со специфическим запахом. Меласса содержит до 60% неизвлеченных углеводов. Меласса на 20-25% состоит из воды, около 9% органических азотистых соединений (преимущественно амидов), 58-60%) остаточных углеводов главным образом это сахароза и рафиноза. Кроме этого в состав свекольной мелассы входит до 7-10% золы (минеральных веществ).The main by-product of sugar production is molasses (black molasses, fr.

) or fodder molasses - a syrupy liquid of a dark brown color with a specific odor. Molasses contains up to 60% non-extracted carbohydrates. Molasses consists of 20-25% water, about 9% organic nitrogenous compounds (mainly amides), 58-60% residual carbohydrates, mainly sucrose and raffinose. In addition, beet molasses contains up to 7-10% ash (mineral substances).

или 1,2⋅10^-9 м или 1,2 нм или 0,0012 мкм. Согласно компьютерному моделированию, линейные размеры молекулы сахарозы вдоль осей Χ, Υ и Ζ равны 0,72 нм, 0,60 нм и 1,06 нм, соответственно.The molecular weight of the main component of molasses sucrose is 342.2965 g/mol. Therefore, a mole of sucrose is 342.2965 g, and 1 cm ³ contains 1/342.2965 moles. At the same time, 1 cm ³ has 6.022 1023 / 342.2965 = 1.8-1021 sucrose molecules. Thus, in a liquid, one molecule has a volume equal to: 1/1.8⋅10 ²¹ =1/1.8⋅10 ^-21 cm ³ . Assuming that the liquid molecules are densely located to each other, we obtain that the linear dimensions of the sucrose molecule are of the order of magnitude:

or 1.2⋅10 ^-9 m or 1.2 nm or 0.0012 µm. According to computer simulations, the linear dimensions of the sucrose molecule along the x, y, and z axes are 0.72 nm, 0.60 nm, and 1.06 nm, respectively.

(от лат. beta - свекла) - триметильное производное глицина - триметилглицин, или триметиламиноуксусная кислота (внутренняя соль). Систематическое название бетаина: 2-триметиламмонийацетат, традиционные названия бетаина: триметилглицин, глицилбетаин, оксиневрин, лицин. Эмпирическая химическая формула бетаина: C₅H₁₁NO₂, рациональная химическая формула бетаина: (CH₃)₃NCH₂COO. На фиг. 1 представлена структура химическая формула бетаина.

(from lat. beta - beets) - trimethyl derivative of glycine - trimethylglycine, or trimethylaminoacetic acid (internal salt). Systematic name of betaine: 2-trimethylammonium acetate, traditional names of betaine: trimethylglycine, glycylbetaine, oxyneurin, lycine. Empirical chemical formula of betaine: C ₅ H ₁₁ NO ₂ , rational chemical formula of betaine: (CH ₃ ) ₃ NCH ₂ COO. In FIG. 1 shows the structure of the chemical formula of betaine.

или 1,7⋅10^-9 м или 1,7 нм или 0,0017 мкм.The molecular weight of betaine is 117.148 g/mol. Therefore, 1 mol of betaine is 117.148 g, and 1 cm ³ contains 1/117.148 mol. At the same time, 1 cm ³ has 6.022⋅10 ²³ /117.148=5.1⋅10 ²¹ betaine molecules. Thus, in a liquid, one molecule has a volume equal to: 1/5.1⋅10 ²¹ =1/5.1⋅10 ^-21 cm ³ . Assuming that the molecules in the liquid are closely spaced to each other, we obtain that the linear dimensions of the betaine molecule are of the order of magnitude:

or 1.7⋅10 ^-9 m or 1.7 nm or 0.0017 µm.

Betaine is an important product in remethylation reactions, acting as a donor of methyl groups. Betaine is a zwitterionic compound. Other similar compounds are also included in the betaine group, but the name betaine was assigned to trimethylglycine.

Betaine as a bipolar ion - zwitterion (internal salt) under the action of an electric current is able to migrate to the cathode or to the anode (depending on the pH of the medium). The pH value of the medium at which the equality of positive and negative charges is established is called the isoelectric point.

At the isoelectric point, betaine is electrically neutral and is not able to move under the influence of an electric current either to the cathode or to the anode.

In FIG. 2 shows an example of the conversion of amino acids (change in the electric charge of zwitterions) in an aqueous medium depending on the pH of the medium (Fig. 2).

Isoelectric point:

A bipolar ion, the amino acid does not migrate to either the cathode or the anode.

Acidic environment (pH lower than isoelectric point):

Due to the presence of an undissociated carboxylic group, the amino acid behaves like a cation - it migrates to the cathode.

Alkaline (pH higher than isoelectric point):

Due to the presence of a charged carboxyl group, the amino acid behaves like an anion and migrates to the anode.

pK _a1 values characterizing the acidic properties of the carboxyl group of amino acids (-COOH) usually range from 1 to 3; pK _a2 values characterizing the acidity of the ammonium group (-NH ₃ ⁺ ), from 9 to 10. Betaine, being a derivative of glycine, a neutral α-amino acid, also has a similarity with this amino acid in its acid-base properties. The acid-base properties of the neutral α-amino acid glycine are shown in Table 1.

Neutral α-amino acids have pI values slightly lower than 7 (5.5-6.3) due to the greater ability to ionize the carboxyl group.

Betaine is an activator in the synthesis of phospholipids in cell membranes. Betaine can function as an alternative methyl group donor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Due to this, betaine can replace defects in methylation reactions caused by a malfunction of the folate cycle and a lack of vitamin B ₁₂ . Betaine can also replace S-adenosylmethionine as a methyl group donor for direct methylation of phosphatididylethanolamine. This pathway is alternative in the formation of phosphatidylcholine. It is believed that through these two reactions, betaine has an effect on intermediate metabolism. In addition, the importance of betaine for DNA methylation reactions has been established, which may be more important than the direct metabolic reactions of betaine. In the presence of betaine, the degree of DNA methylation can increase, but this is only expressed in hypomethylated regions, which makes betaine a very promising substance for attenuating abnormal DNA mutations.

Betaine is used as a drug, food additive, and as a catalyst in some biochemical tests (eg, polymerase chain reaction). Traditionally, betaine has been used as a hepatoprotective and metabolic agent. Included in a number of drugs to improve liver function. Attempts are being made to use betaine as a means of correcting obesity, but there are no serious scientific data on the effect of betaine on the development of overweight. The hydrochloride salt can serve as a source of hydrochloric acid in achlorhydria. Efforts are being made to use betaine in Alzheimer's disease. There is evidence that a high intake of betaine may prevent the risk of breast cancer. This effect is supposed to be realized through the influence on DNA methylation processes. However, the contribution of each factor requires a detailed study in a large-scale study, since such a relationship was not found in postmenopausal women, which may indicate the dependence of the effects of betaine on hormonal status. The hypothesis of a hormone-associated effect of betaine is supported by the data on the absence of its effect on the risk of cancer progression in women with ovariectomy. At the same time, published data open up encouraging prospects for men: the additional administration of betaine is accompanied by a decrease in the risk of prostate adenoma and colorectal cancer. Thus, there is an obvious need to evaluate the prophylactic use of betaine by women of childbearing age, as well as its value as an oncoprotective agent, with the help of more accurate studies. Recent research suggests that betaine may be an effective agent for correcting homocysteine levels in heart disease, and also effectively corrects homocysteine levels in obese women undergoing liposuction, in which elevated homocysteine levels correlate with reduced betaine levels and are not corrected by folic acid supplementation. However, the clinical significance of lowering homocysteine levels under the influence of betaine in order to prevent the risk of cardiovascular complications remains uncertain.

Betaine is a good moisturizer and osmoprotectant, protecting cells from dehydration. Used in moisturizers and masks. Betaine derivatives act as surfactants. Due to its high ability to improve (condition) the appearance of the skin and increase the fluidity of the compositions, betaine is ideal for a wide range of cosmetic products.

Electrolysis is a physicochemical process consisting in the release of constituents of dissolved substances or other substances on the electrodes, which are the result of secondary reactions on the electrodes, which occurs when an electric current passes through a solution or electrolyte melt.

Electric current - directed (ordered) movement of particles or quasi-particles - carriers of electric charge. Such carriers can be: in metals - electrons, in electrolytes - ions (cations and anions), in gases - ions and electrons, in vacuum under certain conditions - electrons, in semiconductors - electrons or holes (electron-hole conductivity).

The ordered movement of ions in conductive liquids occurs in an electric field, which is created by electrodes - conductors connected to the poles of a source of electrical energy. The negative electrode is called the cathode during electrolysis, the positive electrode is called the anode. Positive ions - cations (metal ions, hydrogen ions, ammonium ions, etc.) - move towards the cathode, negative ions - anions (ions of acid residues and hydroxyl groups) - move towards the anode.

The reactions that occur during electrolysis on the electrodes are called secondary. Primary are the reactions of dissociation in the electrolyte.

Michael Faraday's laws of electrolysis are as follows:

1. The first law: the mass of the substance released on the electrode is directly proportional to the electric charge that has passed through the electrolyte.

2. The second law: the electrochemical equivalents of various substances are proportional to their molar masses and inversely proportional to the numbers expressing their chemical valency. The chemical equivalent of an ion is the ratio of the molar mass of an ion to its valence.

To separate the components of dilute (aqueous) solutions, concentrate or purify them, membrane processes carried out under the action of a pressure drop, or baromembrane processes (baromembrane methods) are widely used. The size of the particles or molecules, as well as the chemical properties of the solute, determine the structure of the membrane, that is, the size of the pores, their size distribution, which are necessary to separate a given mixture. Different membrane processes can be classified according to the size of the solute particles to be separated and hence the structure of the membranes used. Baromembrane processes include:

1. Microfiltration - the process of separating liquid or gas mixtures from suspended particles with a diameter of 100-0.1 microns (microns). Filtration is carried out on fine-grained material, sand, quartz, etc., for coarse filtration of large particles. The process is carried out in a dead-end mode with regeneration by the reverse flow of liquid/gas.

2.Ultrafiltration - the process of membrane separation, as well as fractionation and concentration of substances, carried out by filtering the liquid under the action of a pressure difference before and after the membrane. The pore size of ultrafiltration membranes varies from 0.01 to 0.1 µm.

3. Reverse osmosis is a process in which, at a certain pressure, a solvent (usually water) passes through a semi-permeable membrane from a more concentrated to a less concentrated solution, i.e. in the opposite direction for osmosis. In this case, the membrane passes the solvent, but does not pass some substances dissolved in it. The reverse osmosis unit is capable of removing particles with sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns from water.

The main requirements for membranes used in baromembrane processes are:

- narrow pore size distribution;

- anisotropic structure;

- high permeability (specific productivity);

- chemical resistance to the action of the medium to be separated, regenerating and sterilizing reagents;

- stability of characteristics in time;

- mechanical strength;

- no carryover of the membrane material into the filtrate;

- low cost.

Apparatus for the implementation of baromembrane processes on an industrial scale are subject to requirements determined by the possibility of their manufacture and operating conditions. There are the following types of membrane devices:

- flat-chamber;

- tubular;

- roll;

- hollow fiber;

Apparatus for the implementation of pressure-membrane processes should have a large surface of membranes per unit volume of the apparatus and be easy to assemble and install due to the need for periodic replacement of membranes. It is apparently impossible to create an apparatus that fully satisfies all the requirements. Therefore, for each specific separation process, a design should be selected that provides the most favorable conditions for carrying out this particular process.

The method is implemented as follows.

The main raw material in the production of sugar is sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Acceptance, sampling and quality assessment of sugar beet is carried out according to the following technical regulatory legal acts:

1. GOST 17421-82 “Sugar beet for industrial processing. Procurement requirements. Specifications" or

2. GOST Ρ 52647-2006 “Sugar beet. Specifications".

The general technological scheme for obtaining sugar from beets includes the following successively implemented technological processes:

1. Collection and transportation of beets to production.

2. Cleaning of raw materials from dirt and metal objects.

3. Making shavings from beets.

4. Obtaining and purification of diffusion juice.

5. Evaporation of juice to the state of syrup.

6. Processing syrup into a crystalline mass - massecuite I.

7. Obtaining crystalline sugar and molasses from massecuite I.

8. Evaporation of molasses into massecuite II, its separation into molasses and yellow sugar.

9. Purification of yellow sugar.

10. Packing and packaging of granulated sugar.

Sugar beet is unloaded in a dry or wet way, weighed, divided into large batches, transported to a beet-washer, where the beet is washed and separated from light and heavy impurities, then root crops are cut and beet chips are obtained.

Beet chips are fed to diffusion - passing water heated to 70°C through sugar beet chips to form raw juice and beet pulp, which is removed from production.

After extraction of sucrose from beet chips, the resulting raw juice is fed to defecation and saturation.

Defecation - treatment of diffusion juice with lime (lime chalk) for coagulation and precipitation of non-sugars (proteins, pectin and other substances), as well as for the decomposition of acid amides, ammonium salts, reducing substances, saponification of fats and the creation of an excess of lime necessary to obtain a sufficient amount precipitation CaCO ₃ .

Saturation is the treatment of defecal juice with carbonation gas containing CO ₂ to form CaCO ₃ crystals, on the surface of which particles of non-sugars are adsorbed (table 1).

Further, the purified sugar juice goes to filtration, and then to evaporation.

Filtration is the process of separating suspensions, flue gases and dusts by passing them through a porous partition capable of retaining suspended particles and passing the filtrate or purified gas.

Evaporation - removal of water from purified sugar juice up to 70% of solids in evaporators.

Sugar syrup after evaporation enters the crystallization.

Crystallization - the formation of sugar crystals in crystallizers under pressure.

After crystallization, centrifugation is carried out.

Centrifugation - separation of massecuite from white sugar crystals; the massecuite is fed back into production.

The resulting sugar is packaged, packaged, transported.

All the main qualitative characteristics of sucrose are regulated by technical regulatory legal acts:

1. GOST 21-94 “Sugar. Specifications".

2. GOST 22-94 “Refined sugar. Specifications".

3. STB 2086-2010 “White sugar. Specifications".

4. GOST Ρ 53396-2009 “White sugar. Specifications".

Molasses obtained as a result of sugar beet production as a by-product (mixture: 60% carbohydrates (mainly sucrose), 20-25% water, 9% organic nitrogen compounds (mainly amides), 7-10% minerals or ash (mainly sodium atoms and potassium)) I dilute with water to 10% dry matter.

The separation of molasses components is carried out with the help of baromembrane technologies as a result of successively carried out:

1. Microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0.1 microns to separate macromolecular substances (proteins and proteins).

2. Reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate minerals:

- from potassium (K) with pore sizes of 0.000472 microns or more;

- from calcium (Ca) with pore sizes of 0.000394 microns or more;

- from sodium (Na) with pore sizes of 0.000378 µm or more.

3. Ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes with pore sizes of 0.01-0.1 µm to separate:

- sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns or more;

- betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns or more.

Next, carry out:

- acidification of the molasses fraction with betaine to pH>6 (optimally up to pH>2.3) or

- alkalization of the molasses fraction with betaine to pH<6 (optimally up to pH≤9.6).

Subsequently, electrolysis is carried out by passing an electric current through a fraction of molasses with betaine at a current density of 10-15 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 20-40°C.

For the maximum possible stonecrop from mineral substances (deashing), the molasses fraction with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis by passing an electric current at a current density of not more than 10 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of not more than 40°C.

The following are examples of specific implementation of the invention.

Example 1

Molasses obtained as a result of sugar beet production as a by-product (mixture: 60% carbohydrates (mainly sucrose), 20-25% water, 9% organic nitrogen compounds (mainly amides), 7-10% minerals or ash (mainly sodium atoms and potassium)) I dilute with water to 10% dry matter.

The separation of molasses components is carried out with the help of baromembrane technologies as a result of successively carried out:

1. Microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0.1 microns to separate macromolecular substances (proteins and proteins).

2. Reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate minerals:

- from potassium (K) with pore sizes of 0.000472 microns or more;

- from calcium (Ca) with pore sizes of 0.000394 microns or more;

- from sodium (Na) with a pore size of 0.000378 microns or more.

3. Ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes with pore sizes of 0.01-0.1 µm to separate:

- sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns or more;

- betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns or more.

Further, acidification of the molasses fraction with betaine is carried out to pH<6.

Electrolysis is carried out by passing an electric current through molasses, acidified to pH<6, at a current density of 10 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 20°C.

For the maximum possible stonecrop from mineral substances (ashing) through the fraction of molasses with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis by passing an electric current at a current density of 9 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 37°C.

Example 2

Molasses obtained as a result of sugar beet production as a by-product (mixture: 60% carbohydrates (mainly sucrose), 20-25% water, 9% organic nitrogen compounds (mainly amides), 7-10% minerals or ash (mainly sodium atoms and potassium)) I dilute with water up to 10%) of solids.

The separation of molasses components is carried out with the help of baromembrane technologies as a result of successively carried out:

1. Microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0.1 microns to separate macromolecular substances (proteins and proteins).

2. Reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate minerals:

- from potassium (K) with pore sizes of 0.000472 microns or more;

- from calcium (Ca) with pore sizes of 0.000394 microns or more;

- from sodium (Na) with pore sizes of 0.000378 µm or more.

3. Ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes with pore sizes of 0.01-0.1 µm to separate:

- sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns or more;

- betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns or more.

Further, acidification of the molasses fraction with betaine to pH≥2.3 is carried out.

Electrolysis is carried out by passing electric current through molasses, acidified to pH≥2.3, at a current density of 15 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 40°C.

For the maximum possible stonecrop from minerals (ashing) through the fraction of molasses with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis by passing an electric current at a current density of 8 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 35°C.

Example 3

Molasses obtained as a result of sugar beet production as a by-product (mixture: 60% carbohydrates (mainly sucrose), 20-25% water, 9% organic nitrogen compounds (mainly amides), 7-10% minerals or ash (mainly sodium atoms and potassium)) I dilute with water to 10% dry matter.

The separation of molasses components is carried out with the help of baromembrane technologies as a result of successively carried out:

1. Microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate macromolecular substances (proteins and proteins).

2. Reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate minerals:

- from potassium (K) with pore sizes of 0.000472 microns or more;

- from calcium (Ca) with pore sizes of 0.000394 microns or more;

- from sodium (Na) with pore sizes of 0.000378 µm or more.

3. Ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes with pore sizes of 0.01-0.1 µm to separate:

- sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns or more;

- betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns or more.

Next, alkalization of the molasses fraction with betaine to pH>7 is carried out.

Electrolysis is carried out by passing an electric current through molasses, alkalized to pH>7, at a current density of 12 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 30°C.

For the maximum possible stonecrop from minerals (ashing) through the molasses fraction with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis by passing an electric current at a current density of 10 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 30°C.

Example 4

Molasses obtained as a result of sugar beet production as a by-product (mixture: 60% carbohydrates (mainly sucrose), 20-25% water, 9% organic nitrogen compounds (mainly amides), 7-10% minerals or ash (mainly sodium atoms and potassium)) I dilute with water to 10% dry matter.

The separation of molasses components is carried out with the help of baromembrane technologies as a result of successively carried out:

1. Microfiltration using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0.1 microns to separate macromolecular substances (proteins and proteins).

2. Reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 microns to separate minerals:

- from potassium (K) with pore sizes of 0.000472 microns or more;

- from calcium (Ca) with pore sizes of 0.000394 microns or more;

- from sodium (Na) with a pore size of 0.000378 microns or more.

3. Ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes with pore sizes of 0.01-0.1 µm to separate:

- sucrose with a pore size of 0.0012 microns or more;

- betaine with a pore size of 0.0017 microns or more.

Further, acidification of the molasses fraction with betaine to pH≥9.6 is carried out.

Electrolysis is carried out by passing electric current through molasses, acidified to pH≥9.6, at a current density of 15 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 35°C.

For the maximum possible stonecrop from mineral substances (ashing) through the fraction of molasses with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis by passing an electric current at a current density of 5 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 40°C.

Thus, we have proposed an innovative method for obtaining betaine using modern technological methods (electrolysis and baromembrane processes: microfiltration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis), which allows for the maximum possible deep processing of sugar beet with the possibility of simultaneous isolation of molasses from the by-product of sugar beet production:

- biologically active component of betaine, as well as

- sucrose.

The proposed method makes it possible to diversify beet sugar production by expanding the range of products by isolating a biologically active substance, betaine, and at the same time significantly increase the yield of the main product, sucrose, while reducing the volume of by-products, molasses.

Claims (1)

A method for processing molasses, which involves diluting molasses with water and separating it into fractions, characterized in that molasses is diluted with water to 10% solids, molasses components are separated using baromembrane technologies as a result of successive microfiltrations using microfiltration membranes with a pore size of 100-0 .1 µm for separating high-molecular protein substances, reverse osmosis using membranes with pore sizes of 0.001-0.0001 µm for separating minerals: from potassium with a pore size of 0.000472 µm, from calcium with a pore size of 0.000394 µm, from sodium (Na) at a pore size of 0.000378 µm, ultrafiltration using ultrafiltration membranes to separate: sucrose at a pore size of 0.0012 µm, betaine at a pore size of 0.0017 µm, carry out acidification to pH<6 or alkalization to pH>7 of the fraction molasses with betaine, then electrolysis is carried out as a result of passing an electric current through a fraction of molasses with betaine at a current density of 10-15 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of 20-40°C; for the maximum possible purification from mineral substances, the molasses fraction with sucrose is also subjected to electrolysis by passing an electric current at a current density of not more than 10 mA/cm ³ and a temperature of not more than 40°C.

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