Sugar Solution

Sugar Solution

Liquid sugar solution being poured into a glass

A sugar solution is a syrup in which a sweetener such as sucrose is dissolved in water to form an easy-to-mix addition for food and beverage processors without having deal with undissolved sugars.

Sugar solutions are made by blending solid sugar with water and heating it to dissolve the sugars. It is commonly about 67% sucrose, has a specific gravity of about 1.33, pH about 7.5, and a viscosity of about 240 cPs at 21áµ’C (70áµ’F) ranging up to 1000 cPs at 5áµ’C (41áµ’F). The term sugar solution also includes liquid invert sugar, made by breaking down sucrose into glucose and fructose through heating with enzymatic inversion or acid hydrolysis processes. Physical properties are similar to liquid sucrose solutions.

Positive displacement pumps are required for transfer of sugar solutions due to the relatively high viscosity, and their low NPSHr can enable suction lift despite the high density. Hygienic positive displacement pumps are required due to the susceptibility of sugar solutions to bacterial contamination and the need for regular CIP cleaning. Consult your distributor regarding seal selection as sugars can crystallize at seal faces causing abrasion.

    Viking in the Process

    Viking internal gear pumps are commonly used in sugar manufacturing, but in processing of liquid sugars Viking hygienic rotary lobe and circumferential piston pumps are used for transfer of raw liquid sugars to filtration and packaging or transport, or pumping to vessels to create inverts. Viking hygienic pumps are also used at food and beverage processors to unload railcars or tank trucks to storage and pump from storage to blending applications.

      Applications

      • Liquid sucrose or other sugar solutions
      • Invert sugar solutions

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