The figure illustrates the process of sugar production, from initial growth of sugarcane to the final product of consumable sugar. Overall, the entire process can be divided into two main stages: the harvesting and initial processing of sugarcane, and the refinement and crystallization of sugar.
The first stage begins with the cultivation of sugarcane, which requires around 12 to 18 months for the plants to mature. Once ready, the sugarcane is harvested, either manually by farmers or mechanically by specialized machinery. The harvested sugarcane, containing high amounts of water content, then goes through a crushing machine. This involves applying force to the sugarcane stalks, extracting the sugary juices within.
The second stage focuses on refining the extracted sugarcane juice. Initially, the juice undergoes purification using a limestone filter, which removes impurities and prepares it for heat treatment. The purified juice is then heated in an evaporator, a process that reduces its water content and transforms it into a viscous syrup.
The concentrated sugar syrup then undergoes centrifugation, a process that rapidly spins the syrup, separating the sugar crystals from remaining liquid. Finally, the separated sugar crystals are dried and cooled, resulting in the final consumable sugar product.