SOFI - Case Study
Liquid Sugar Disinfection
atg UV Technology, market leaders in the Ultraviolet treatment industry have supplied SOFI, atg UV’s French distributors with three state-of-the-art, ultra compact SS-73-4 Ultraviolet disinfection systems for the treatment of sugar syrup solutions.
The systems where supplied to a market leading Algerian food and beverage manufacture who required effective disinfection of liquid sugar solutions for use in both soft drinks and dessert manufacture.
The atg UV treatment system was sized specifically for the application, and was sized to provide a minimum of 40 mj/cm2 for 50 m3/hr of liquid sugar. Based on vast experience in the beverage production industry, providing Ultraviolet disinfection systems for some of the world’s leading brands, such as Heineken, Britvic, Thwaites and Coca-Cola, atg UV Technology recommended the installation of 3 x SS-73-4 UV Systems installed in a parallel configuration.
With an increasing emphasis on safety, product quality and regulation, the requirement for efficient and effective disinfection of liquid sugar applications has seen many manufactures turn to UV disinfection systems for an effective, non chemical solution.
Concentrated sugar syrups have a high osmotic pressure which prevents micro-organisms from reproducing, however many micro-organisms still survive in spore form and have the ability to grow and reproduce upon dilution of the sugar syrup solution causing discolouration, changes to flavour and importantly a reduced product shelf-life and increased risk of micro-biological infection and ill-health.
The threat of product contamination is further increased as manufacturers are forced to respond to consumer demands for reductions in chemical additives and preservatives used within food and beverage products.
UV disinfection systems from atg UV Technology provides a non-chemical, low maintenance, green technology method of disinfection. atg UV systems effectively kill all known micro-organisms, including bacteria, moulds, viruses and their spores using high intensity UVC light at 254 nm (also known as the germicidal region).
atg UV Technology’s extensively developed SS (Sugar Solution) UV Disinfection Range have been designed to offer extremely low maintenance, offer a high UV output within a small foot print, are easy to install and importantly are fully automatic and cannot be overdosed.
Unlike other UV manufacturers who simply offer waste water systems for sugar applications, atg UV Technology have designed a specific range of Liquid Sugar UV disinfection systems to deal with the high viscosities encountered in sugar solutions up to 66 brix, at as low as 10-15% UVT (Ultraviolet Transmittance).
The SS (sugar solution) range system design is significantly different to waste water UV systems, and utilises the latest in advanced thin-film quartz and UVC lamp technology, and has a specially designed UV chamber to offer optimum UV disinfection performance at ultra low UVT levels associated with liquid sugar applications.
Sanitary finishes of 0.4 Ra internal finish, UV intensity monitoring, and temperature monitoring come as standard, Options include sanitary tri-clamp connections, MODBUS or PROFIBUS communication, elctro-polish finishes and full food and drug (FDA) documentation is available.
UV disinfection has many advantages over alternative methods. Unlike chemical treatment, atg UV’s disinfection process does not introduce toxins or residues into the manufacturing process and does not affect the chemical composition, taste, odour or pH of the liquid.
atg UV systems can be used as either primary disinfection or as a secondary means of treatment. As UV disinfection has no residual effect, the best position to locate a treatment system is immediately prior to the point of use, ensuring incoming microbiological contaminants are destroyed and there is a minimal chance of post-treatment contamination.
As liquid sugar solutions have a high density, and low UV Transmittance, typically between 10-30% UVT, all atg UV systems for liquid sugar disinfection utilise high intensity, medium pressure UV lamps (low pressure lamps
are not suitable for liquid sugar applications). Importantly, medium pressure UV lamp performance is not effected by temperature changes of the liquid.
Ultraviolet disinfection systems are usually installed in-line after the storage tank discharge point, so the liquid sugar solution is treated prior to dilution into the product, and prior to the addition of additives, flavourings or colourings, all of which reduce UVT% Ultraviolet transmittance.
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