THE MANUFACTURE OF FOODS 377 



and the tops removed. After being carried to the factory they 

 are washed and sliced in thin slices. The sliced beets are 

 placed in a series of great tanks called DIFFUSERS, which we 

 shall call, in turn, A, B, C, D, and E. Fresh water is fed 

 into the top of A and as it passes down through the slices 

 the sugar is extracted. Emerging from the bottom of A, the 

 solution is next fed into the top of B. As it passes through 

 the slices in B, it dissolves more sugar, but removes rela- 

 tively less sugar than was removed in A . Thus the solution 

 is led, in the same manner, through C, D, and E, each time 

 becoming a more concentrated solution of sugar, but remov- 

 ing, relatively, less and less sugar from the slices in each 

 diffuser in turn. Finally as it emerges from E, the solution 

 is almost as concentrated in sugar as is the natural juice 

 contained in the slices in E. The solution is then purified 

 and the sugar extracted. 



Meanwhile, the continuous passage of water through A 

 has removed as much sugar from the slices as it is profitable 

 to remove. The exhausted slices in A are then removed, 

 and A is refilled with fresh slices and it is then placed next 

 in series after E. Fresh water is then fed into B. From B 

 the solution passes in turn through C, D, E, and A. The 

 solution from A is purified and the sugar extracted. Mean- 

 while the sugar has been quite completely removed from the 

 slices in B. Its contents are emptied and it is refilled with 

 fresh slices and placed next after A in series. Fresh water 

 is then fed into C, passing, in turn, through D, E } A, and 

 B. The solution from B is then purified and the sugar ex- 

 tracted. So the process is a continuous one. In this manner 

 the maximum quantity of sugar is removed from the sliced 

 beets by means of the minimum quantity of water. 



In beet sugar factories the raw sugar is refined in the one 

 establishment, whereas cane sugar is usually refined in other 

 factories than those that produce the raw sugar. 



429. Sugar Refining. In the process of refining sugar, the 

 raw sugar is dissolved in water and the syrup is then purified 



