Effect of Liming Process on Physicochemical Properties and Phytochemical Components of Non-Centrifugal Sugar from Different Sugarcane Cultivars

Non-centrifugal sugar product (NCS) is produced without molasses removal and contains nutrients and phytochemicals inherently found in sugarcane. To obtain a high-quality product, clarifying raw cane juice, especially following the traditional process, is the most important step to remove contamination as insoluble and suspended matter impurities from the rind during harvesting and pressing. Calcium oxide (CaO) is a promising chemical, widely used as a liming agent to clarify raw juice by the traditional non-centrifugal sugar process. However, use of traditional methods and different cane cultivars affect the quality of sugar products. Clarification by calcium oxide at different pH levels and the diversity of cane cultivars also affect physicochemical components. Bioactive compounds among the obtained products were evaluated. Clarifying juice at pH 8.5 gave highest insoluble solids (47.52 g) removed from cane juice and lowest sediment value (0.68%) of non-centrifugal sugar but caused greatest loss of policosanol and tricin contents. Using calcium oxide clarification, Suphanburi 50 cultivar gave NCS with the highest sugar yield (17.75%) but lowest color value (2100 IU) and phytochemical contents. LK 92-11 cane cultivar produced NCS with the highest color value (6533.3 IU), total phenolic content (1124.09 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (143.82 mg RUE/100 g), policosanol content (4.13 mg/100 g) and tricin content (50.82 µg/100 g).