Extraction of sucrose

Claim 2

A process for separating sucrose from an aqueous solution containing sucrose and at least one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of betaine and a mineral salt, which process comprises: (a) contacting said solution, at adsorption conditions, with an adsorbent comprising activated carbon powder bound with a binder material consisting essentially of a water permeable organic polymer selected from the group consisting of a cellulose nitrate, a cellulose ester and a mixture of a cellulose nitrate and cellulose ester, thereby selectively adsorbing said sucrose thereon; and (b) separating the solution from contact with said adsorbent, wherein the solution still contains said at least one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of betaine and a mineral salt; and thereafter recovering said sucrose by desorption thereof from said adsorbent.

Claim 3

The process as set forth in claim 1 in which said adsorption conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 20° C. to about 200° C. and a pressure in the range of from about atmospheric to about 500 psig.

Claim 4

The process as set forth in claim 2 is further characterized in that said process is effected in the liquid phase.

Claim 5

The process as set forth in claim 1 in which said sucrose is recovered from said adsorbent by desorption with a mixture of water and methanol.

Claim 6

The process as set forth in claim 4 wherein the methanol and water are mixed in a volume ratio of about 1.0:1.0.

Claim 7

The process as set forth in claim 1 in which said aqueous solution is molasses.

Claim 8

A process for separating sucrose from an aqueous solution of sucrose and at least one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of betaine and a mineral salt, which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting said sugar source, at adsorption conditions to selectively adsorb said sucrose, with an adsorbent comprising activated carbon bound with a binder material consisting essentially of a water permeable organic polymer selected from the group consisting of a cellulose nitrate, a cellulose ester and a mixture of said cellulose nitrate and cellulose ester; (b) removing from the adsorbent a raffinate stream comprising at least one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of a mineral salt and betaine; (c) contacting said adsorbent at desorption conditions with a desorbent material to effect the desorption of said sucrose from said adsorbent; and (d) removing from said adsorbent an extraction stream comprising said sucrose.

Claim 9

A process for separating sucrose from an aqueous solution of sucrose and at least one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of betaine and a mineral salt, which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting said sugar source, at adsorption conditions to selectively adsorb said sucrose, with an adsorbent comprising activated carbon bound with a binder material consisting essentially of a water permeable organic polymer selected from the group consisting of a cellulose nitrate, a cellulose ester and a mixture of said cellulose nitrate and cellulose ester; (b) removing from the adsorbent a raffinate stream comprising at least one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of a mineral salt and betaine; (c) contacting said adsorbent at desorption conditions with a desorbent material to effect the desorption of said sucrose from said adsorbent; and (d) removing from said adsorbent an extraction stream comprising said sucrose.

Claim 10

The process as set forth in claim 7 in which said adsorption and desorption conditions include a temperature in the range of from about 20° C. to about 200° C. and a pressure in the range of from about atmospheric to about 500 psig to ensure a liquid phase.

Claim 11

The process as set forth in claim 7 in which said desorbent material is a mixture of water and methanol.

Claim 12

The process as set forth in claim 9 wherein the methanol and water are mixed in a volume ratio of about 1.0:1.0.

Claim 13

The process as set forth in claim 7 in which said aqueous solution is molasses.