Sugar mills use lime during the purification and clarification of sugarcane juice. But not all types of lime are suitable — only one specific type is safe, effective, and approved for refining sugar.
The lime used in sugar refining is Food-Grade Quick Lime and Food-Grade Hydrated Lime, depending on the processing stage.
These are specially purified grades of lime used to remove impurities from sugarcane juice and improve the clarity of sugar.
Food-grade lime helps make sugar clean, pure, and white during the clarification process.
When sugarcane juice is extracted, it contains mud, fibers, acids, proteins, and many impurities.Food-grade lime is added to the juice to:
After the process, impurities are removed, and the juice becomes fit for making pure white sugar crystals.
| Lime Type | Scientific Name | Food Safe? | Used in Sugar Refining? | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food-Grade Quick Lime (Main Use) | Calcium Oxide (CaO) | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | Used for juice clarification and pH adjustment |
| Food-Grade Hydrated Lime | Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | Used in carbonation and purification |
This will close in 30 seconds