j Kuldiloke - Department of Chemical Engineering Mahidol University, ۲۵/۲۵ Puthamonthon ۴ Rd
M.N Eshtiaghi - Department of Chemical Engineering Mahidol University, ۲۵/۲۵ Puthamonthon ۴ Rd
c Neatpisarnvanit - Department of Electrical Engineering Mahidol University, ۲۵/۲۵ Puthamonthon ۴ Rd

The effect of High Electric Field Pulses (HELP) on cell disintegration of sugar cane was investigated. The sugar cane was treated at different Field strength (4 to 5 kV) and pulse number (10to 80 pulses at 4 and 5). The juice yield as well as mass transfer of HELP pre-treated sample were measured and compared with heated (20 min, 70º C) or untreated sample. The results showed thatusing HELP treatment at 4 to 5 kV the sugar cane cells could be effectively disintegrated. The masstransfer of HELP treated samples were comparable to heat treated sample. The Juice yield of sample after pressing of HELP pre-treated samples were higher (74.5% at 5kV, 20 pulses) than heat treated (73.2%) and distinct higher than untreated sugar cane (65.5%). The energy consumption for HELPdisintegration of sugar cane (17 kJ/kg at 5kV and 20 pulses) was 10 times less compare to heat treatment (171 kJ/kg). Additionally the cell disintegration using HELP occurred faster (1 min with 0.5 pulses/s and 30 pulses) than thermal disintegration (20 min at 70° C).

Sugar cane, high electric field pulses, energy consumption, mass transfer, juice yield