64t hitelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



azotized matters which are found in the sugar-cane. This separation 

 is eiFected without appreciable loss in the quantity, or deterioration 

 in the quality, of the sugar. 



Bisulphite of lime, moreover, rapidly and tolerably effectually 

 bleaches the coloured substances found in the sugar-cane ; it pre- 

 vents the formation of other coloured matters produced by the action 

 of air on the pulp of the cane ; it also stops the production of those 

 which are formed during evaporation, and above all of those which 

 require for their development the joint action of air and a free alkali. 



It seems that coloured substances which, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, are formed spontaneously by the exposure of the pulp of the 

 sugar-cane to the air, never make their appearance when bisulphite 

 of lime is employed. By evaporating, at a low temperature, bisulphite 

 of lime mixed with — 1, a common solution of sugar ; 2, the crude sap 

 of the sugar-cane ; 3, the juice of beet-root ; no coloration was pro- 

 duced. By an evaporation of the same substances at a high tem- 

 perature, the coloration was scarcely visible ; indeed, with red beet- 

 root the colour was completely destroyed, and the sugar obtained 

 was perfectly white. 



It seems, then, that bisulphite of lime can be employed in the 

 extraction of sugar : — 1st, as an antiseptic, preventing the production 

 and action of any ferment ; 2nd, as a substance greedy of oxygen, 

 opposing any alteration that might be caused by its action on the 

 juice; 3rd, as a clarifier, coagulating at a temperature of 212° all 

 albuminous and other coagulable matters ; 4th, as a body bleaching 

 all pre-existing coloured products ; 5th, as a body opposing itself in 

 a very high degree to the formation of coloured substances ; 6th, as 

 a base capable of neutralising any hurtful acids which might exist or 

 be formed in the juice, and substituting in their place a weak in- 

 active acid, namely, sulphurous acid. 



M. Melsens is of opinion that sugar can be obtained from the 

 sugar-cane with no other source of heat than a tropical sun, except- 

 ing only for the purpose of clarification ; indeed, the bisulphite of 

 lime prevents the crude juice of the cane, or the syrup obtained 

 therefrom, from undergoing any changes ; great rapidity in the pro- 

 cess of crystallization, indispensable at present, becomes by using 

 this salt unnecessary ; and more than this, the quantity of sugar 

 which is now lost in the bagasse, in consequence of the impossibility 

 of washing it out unchanged, can be all collected by being dissolved 

 in water charged with bisulphite of lime. 



The only objection that can be made to the above process is, that 

 the sugar obtained by means of bisulphite of lime has a sulphurous 

 taste ; this is true, but the taste is completely lost — 1st, by crushing 

 the sugar and exposing it to the air, whereby the little sulphite of 

 lime which there may be is converted into a tasteless sulphate ; 2nd, 

 by exposing the sugar to an atmosphere containing ammonia ; if this 

 is done the sugar acquires a very agreeable flavour of vanilla, but is 

 apt to become a little discoloured ; 3rd, by clarifying it until it loses 

 10 per cent, of its weight; by this process a pure white sugar can be 

 obtained, which will bear comparison with any sample produced at 



