High fructose 55 syrup production
Preconcentration of glucose: the glucose solution is concentrated to the desired dry substance by a falling film evaporator comprising several stages in a continuos series. All stages operate under a vacuum and the vapors are used in the next stage to heat the product for further evaporation. The glucose in the last effect is degasified to be oxygen free.
Isomerization of Glucose
In isomerization, glucose is converted to fructose isomers under catalytic equilibrium reactions. DS, temperature, PH and chemical composition of some elements adjusted. Sodium- meta- bisulphite, magnesium-sulphate and sodium hydroxide influence the enzyme activity and stability as well as by- product formations.
FX Demineralization
Two sets of cation, anion and absorber exchangers are provided, which are operated alternately. In the cation exchangers metallic ions are removed in the anion exchangers acid radical ions, soluble amino-acids and color bodies(HMF) are removed and in the absorber especially HMF and color is removed. Finally high quality fructose syrup is obtained, which is absolutely required for a long resin life time.
FX concentration
Intermediate evaporation is carried out in a vacuum evaporator to a standard concentration of about 60% DS. The evaporation procedure is as dextrose description. When the final concentration is achieved the syrup is passing through a plate cooler to be cooled down to about 35°C and sent to the fructose enrichment plant.
Degassing of syrup and elution water
The water and syrup for the chromatographic system require certain parameters:
Temperature, free of ionic components, free of microorganisms, free of oxidizing agents, free of oxygen, conductivity less than 10 microsiemens. This is to avoid deterioration of the resins and to ensure a good product quality.
Chromatographic system
the fructose separator serves as a system for separating to liquids from each other in this case glucose and fructose solution. In this field, the most cost effective solution is to produce by chromatography fructose syrups at about 90% purity, and to blend it with HFCS 42 syrup in such a ratio that HFCS 55 is obtained. The raffinate fraction produced by the chromatography can be used upstream into the isomerization step, in order to improve the global process yield.
Blending section
Blending a 90% F solution and a 42% F solution results in a 55% HFCS solution. This is done in stirred tanks equipped with load cells, where the respective amounts of each fraction are pumped into obtain the 55% fructose content. When the system operates at steady equilibrium, lab analysis may not be needed for every batch.
Polishing section
The HFCS 55 syrup is led to mixed bed ion-exchangers for removal of traces of color, HMF and other ionic impurities.
HFCS 55 Concentration
Final concentration of 55 fructose solution is carried out in a vacuum evaporator to a standard concentration of about 77% DS.
Storing and filling
The concentrated HFCS 55 syrup is stored in storage special tanks. These storage tanks should be kept under controlled temperature conditions in order to prevent any kind of fermentation.
