BEET-SUGAR MOLASSES. 397 



The residual liquid left after the fermentation of the mo- 

 lasses is usually evaporated, and the solid mass subsequently 

 calcined. The beet-sugar manufacture furnishes in this 

 form quite a large quantity of valuable saline compounds for 

 general industrial purposes. One hundred pounds of these 

 calcined saline substances contain from forty-five to forty- 

 eight per cent of soluble constituents of a composition more 

 or less corresponding with the following figures : — 



Per cent. 



Carbonate of potassa 27.60 



Carbonate of soda 4.70 



Chloride of potassium 6.75 



Sulphate of potassa 6.75 



45.80 



One single beet-sugar factory at Wagehausel (Germany) 

 sends every year two hundred thousand pounds of such 

 potassa salts into market, which is mainly used for the manu- 

 facture of nitre. The molasses contains by far the largest 

 portion of the soluble saline constituents of the sugar-beets, 

 particularly the potassa compounds which must be returned 

 to the soil directly or indirectly. The cheaper crude sul- 

 phate of potassa of Stassfurth is at present bought in 

 exchange for the carbonate of potassa sold. Distilleries 

 are frequently connected with sugar-beet manufactories. 



THE CELLULAR RESIDUE OF THE BEET-ROOT. 



(Refuse Sugar-Beet Pulp.) 



The juice of the sugar-beet is secured in different ways, 

 and the residue (pulp) differs according to the course pur- 

 sued. The press-cakes resulting from the application of the 

 hydraulic press, which is one of the main apparatus employed, 

 are compact in consequence of packing the pulp into bags 

 or coarse linen cloths before subjecting it to the press. One 

 hundred pounds of beet-roots furnish from eighteen to 

 twenty pounds of press-cakes, which consist, in case a very 

 powerful press is used, of — 



Per cent. 



Nitrogenous matter 1.336 



Non-nitrogenous organic matter .... 23.354 



Saline constituents 1.180 



Water 74.130 



100.000 



