Abstract:

Brown granulated sugar was used to simulate the flocculation and clarification of syrup by sulfurous acid
method to investigate changes in Zeta potential at different operational stages and the effect of different flocculatants on
this parameter. The results showed that the absolute Zeta potential value of sugar liquor rapidly increased with the gradual
addition of calcium hydroxide, but slowly decreased with increasing the fumigation intensity and then continued to slowly
reduce to the minimum level with the addition of flocculatant during sulphur fumigation and neutralization. During the
whole course from addition of calcium hydroxide, sulphur fumigation and neutralization to flocculation and sedimentation,
the absolute value of Zeta potential gradually declined, the repulsive force between particles became weaker, the stability of
the dispersion system was lowered, and coagulation and flocculation occurred finally.

Key words: Zeta potential, sugar juice, sulfurous acid method, flocculatant, flocculation mechanism