Clarification of sugarcane juice using natural flocculant extracted from Hibiscus lunariifolius

Abstract

Currently, the sugar factories has looking for an alternative products to synthetic polymer (produced from acrylamide), used as flocculant of sugarcane juice. It should be highlight that this product may be included in sugar crystal and develop cancer and neurotoxic action in humans. So, it is necessary to study alternative products extracted from natural sources. Between then, the Hibiscus shows mucilage (albumin) in leaves that can be used as coagulant in clarification of sugarcane juice. The goal of this work will be evaluate the using of Hibiscus as sedimentation auxiliary in clarification of sugarcane juice, and the reflects of clarified juice quality. The experiment will be installed at Universidade do Sagrado Coração - Laboratory of Biomass and Bioenergy, in the season 2018/2019. The first step will be determined the extraction methodology of protein present in leaves, using different concentration of leave/agent extractive, temperature of extraction, and extractive agents. The extract that shows higher protein levels, will be used as flocculant of sugarcane juice in different doses. In the end, a new experiment of clarification process will be accomplished, comparing the hibiscus extract with synthetic polymer. It is expected a new product that shows characteristics coagulants in sugarcane juice similar that performed by acrylamide polymer. (AU)