Beet Sugar
What is Beet Sugar?
Beet sugar is the sugar by-product extracted from the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and is a common sucrose source used in commercial baking, in the form of granulated, powdered, and brown sugars.
Beet sugar
Beet sugar is obtained by countercurrent extraction of sugar beet slices (called cossettes) until the liquor contains about 12% sugar. The liquor is agitated with calcium hydroxide (lime) for several hours. Carbon dioxide is then bubbled through the mixture to neutralize the alkaline solution and form calcium carbonate, and the mixture is filtered. The solution is decolorized with sulfur dioxide. Sucrose is crystallized by concentration of the solution under reduced pressure. After removal of the crystals by centrifugation, the mother liquor is again concentrated, and more sugar crystals are collected.