In jaggery production sugarcane juice clarification is a very critical step to remove natural impurities like colloids, waxes and insoluble solids. It ensures clean syrup with the appropriate colour, taste, texture and shelf life of jaggery. The conventional jaggery-producing method uses a natural clarifier, okra mucilage, to clean sugarcane juice. As okra juice contains natural clarifying properties. There are some more ways to clean sugarcane juice by natural means.
The Top Natural Clarificant: Okra juice or Bhindi mucilage
What is okra mucilage? It is a highly viscous, slimy substance (polysaccharide) extracted from the pods, leaves, and stems of the Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) plant. It acts as a natural, organic, and biodegradable clarifying agent used in sugarcane juice clarification. Mucilage is prepared by crushing 2 kg of okra stalks in 15 litres of water, followed by filtering the mixture, making it suitable for natural clarification of sugarcane juice during jaggery production.
The filtered mucilage is then added to sugarcane juice after lime adjustment (to maintain pH 6.5–7.0) for sugarcane juice clarification. This clarification step helps remove impurities and purify the cane juice before boiling. The mucilage binds with impurities in the juice, forming scum that floats on the surface, making it easy to remove during the clarification process. This method removes about 2.70% impurities, thereby improving jaggery quality. It results in the highest non-reducing sugars (83.56%) and the lowest reducing sugars (4.44%), while also improving colour and reducing ash content.
Other Plant Mucilages as Effective Alternatives for clarification process
Aloe vera mucilage is a sticky substance extracted from aloe leaves. When added to sugarcane juice at 0.1–0.4% of its volume, it helps clean the juice during sugarcane juice clarification. It binds solid particles in the juice, making them easy to remove in the clarification process. Compared to other natural clarifiers like flax seeds, fenugreek, purslane, and Malabar spinach, aloe vera works better. It reduces insoluble matter (dirt, fibres, tiny solids) and keeps the pH of juice stable during sugarcane juice clarification. It also ensures more vitamin C remains in the jaggery.
Extract of the Hibiscus vitifolius plant (deola/kateshevari) is used to remove impurities from sugarcane juice during sugarcane juice clarification. It functions as a strong natural flocculant, matching the performance of synthetic polyelectrolytes in the clarification process. Shukhlai (a natural plant-based material) and Semal bark are used as natural clarifying agents in the same process of sugarcane juice purification. They separate non-sugar impurities from sugarcane juice during natural juice clarification. Research studies show that shukhlai works the best among these options.
Step-by-Step Natural Juice Clarification Process
- Juice preparation: Sugarcane juice is extracted using a crusher and roughly filtered.
- pH adjustment: Lime is added to adjust the juice pH to 6.5–7.0.
- Add clarificant: 0.1–0.4% natural okra mucilage is mixed into the juice and heated to 70–80°C.
- Scum removal: During initial boiling, the foam/scum that rises to the surface is removed.
- Boiling to concentration: The juice is further boiled to 103–115°C until it thickens into syrup.
These natural plant-based methods remove impurities as effectively as chemicals. Making it a chemical-free, natural jaggery with a better shelf life.
Advantages of natural Sugarcane juice clarification Over Chemical Methods
Natural plant-based clarifications like okra mucilage, aloe vera extract, semal bark and Shukhlai do not leave any harmful chemical residues like sulphites or acids in the jaggery. Instead, it keeps jaggery full of nutrients and yields clearer, golden jaggery. These methods also reduce moisture and ash content, which maintain a better shelf life of jaggery. These methods support sustainable and organic production because the mucilages are locally available and biodegradable.
