Method for controlling microbial growth in sugar processing
A method for controlling microbial growth in a sugar processing system is disclosed, wherein the method comprises adding a peroxy acid into water of a flume system used for transporting a sugar-containing plant material from a delivery or storage location to a wash system. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the sugar-containing plant material comprises sugar beets, and the peroxy acid comprises peracetic acid.
1 . A method for controlling microbial growth in a sugar processing system, the method comprising:
(a) adding a peroxy acid into a water channel of a flume system used for transporting a sugar-containing plant material from a delivery or storage location to a wash system.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the peroxy acid has a formula R 1 CO 3 H, where R 1 is selected from C 1 to C 8 alkyl.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the peroxy acid comprises peracetic acid.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
step (a) comprises reacting a peroxide source with a carboxylic acid to form the peroxy acid.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
step (a) comprises adding the peroxy acid into the water channel of the flume system such that a concentration of the peroxy acid in the water of the flume system is in a range of 1 ppm to 2500 ppm.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
step (a) comprises adding the peroxy acid into the water channel of the flume system such that a pH in the water of the flume system is in a range of 5.5 to 6.9.
7 . The method of 1 further comprising:
(b) sensing a measurable physical property of the water of the flume system;
(c) generating a physical property signal corresponding to the measurable physical property, the physical property signal correlating to a concentration of the peroxy acid in the water of the flume system;
(d) transmitting the physical property signal to a controller; and
(e) when the concentration falls below a predetermined value stored in the controller, providing a control signal from the controller to open a supply valve in fluid communication with a source of the peroxy acid and the flume system thereby adding additional peroxy acid into the water channel of the flume system.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein:
the measurable physical property is selected from the group consisting of pH, conductivity, and oxidation reduction potential.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
step (a) comprises adding the peroxy acid into the water channel of the flume system at a point after a beet feeder that is positioned between the delivery or storage location and a water channel of the flume system.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the peroxy acid is added into the water channel of the flume system as a 1% w/w to 35% w/w aqueous solution of the peroxy acid.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the peroxy acid is added into the water channel of the flume system as a 20% w/w to 30% w/w aqueous solution of the peroxy acid.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the sugar-containing plant material is sugar beet.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
step (a) comprises sampling the water of the flume system to determine a count of insects in the water of the flume system and adding the peroxy acid into the water channel of the flume system such that a concentration of the peroxy acid in the water of the flume system reduces the count of insects in the water of the flume system.
14 . The method claim 1 further comprising:
(b) adding additional peroxy acid into a recycled water unit that is in fluid communication with (i) a water storage pond and (ii) an outlet of the wash system or an outlet of the flume system.
15 . The method claim 1 further comprising:
adding additional peroxy acid into a water storage pond that is in fluid (b) communication with an inlet of the flume system.
16 . The method claim 1 further comprising:
(b) adding additional peroxy acid into water of an extraction system of the sugar processing system.
17 . A method for controlling microbial growth in a sugar processing system having a flume system used for transporting a sugar-containing plant material from a delivery or storage location to a wash system wherein lime is used in the flume system, the method comprising:
(a) replacing at least a portion of the lime with a peroxy acid, wherein the peroxy acid is added into a water channel of the flume system.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein:
the peroxy acid has a formula R 1 CO 3 H, where R 1 is selected from C 1 to C 8 alkyl.
19 . The method of claim 17 wherein:
the peroxy acid comprises peracetic acid.