Method and installation for the preparation of anhydrous crystalline dextrose

Abstract

A mass constituted by glucose syrup and anhydrous dextrose crystals is led to pass through from top to bottom and with malaxation a crystallization zone 1 of axis preferably substantially vertical in which said mass is subject to a temperature gradient globally decreasing by 0.2.degree. to 2.degree. C./hour from top to bottom possibly modulated, said zone being supplied through pipe 2 with glucose syrup and through pipe 7 with mass subject to crystallization M taken up at 8 and recycled at 9.

Description

The invention relates to a method and to an installation for the preparation of anhydrous crystalline dextrose.

It is known to prepare anhydrous dextrose batchwise by evaporation-crystallization of a starch hydrolystate. The principles of this method are disclosed in French patent No. 2,046,352.

Recently, there was proposed in Fench patent No. 2,483,427 a method enabling the preparation continuously from a starch hydrolysate, of an anhydrous product with a high content of dextrose.

The hydrolysate with a dry matter higher than 92% is stirred, in a first stage, preferably in the presence of crystallization seeds; the crushed dextrose so obtained is ground, conditioned on a fluidized bed and cooled.

These methods do not give entire satisfaction, the first by reason of too high an energy cost, the second by reason of a sophisticated apparatus and very delicate operation.

Now, in order to face up to the difficulties, particularly in the economic field, which are always more severe, Applicants have sought to develop a method and an installation responding better than those pre-existing to the various desiderata of practice, in particular precisely from the point of view of cost price of the anhydrous dextrose obtained and from the point of view of the simplicity of the equipment used and of the operation of the latter.

And they have found that this object could be achieved by means of a continuous method of preparing crystalline anhydrous dextrose, characterized by the fact that a mass constituted from glucose syrup and crystals of anhydrous dextrose is brought to pass through from top to bottom and with malaxation, a crystallization zone with an axis preferably substantially vertical in which said mass is subjected to a temperature gradient decreasing globally from 0.2.degree. to 2.degree. C./hour from top to bottom and possibly modulated, in which method the crystallization zone is supplied in the vicinity of its upper end,

on the one hand, with glucose syrup preferably substantially free from crystals and from nuclei and having a richness in glucose higher than 92%, preferably higher than 94%, a proportion of dry matter higher than 80%, preferably from 82 to 90% and more preferably from 85 to 88%, and a temperature higher than 60.degree. C., preferably from 80.degree. to 90.degree. C., and

on the other hand, with mass subjected to crystallization which is taken up and recycled from an intermediate level of the crystallization zone, distant from the ends of the latter by at least one sixth, preferably one fifth and more preferably by at least a quarter of the total length, the recycled amount of mass subjected to crystallization representing by volume from 10 to 120%, preferably from 40 to 110% and more preferably from 80 to 100% of the amount of glucose syrup introduced into the zone, at the level of the lower end of which there is continuously collected a crystalline mass rich in anhydrous dextrose crystals which are recovered, said crystallization zone being, preferably, preceded by a zone of starting of the crystallization and advantageously followed by a ripening zone within which temperature is substantially constant at all points, the axis of both preceding and following zone being preferably substantially vertical and arranged preferably substantially in extension of the axis of the crystallization zone, the starting zone, within which the temperature is substantially constant at all points and less by 2.degree. to 5.degree. C. than the saturation temperature, being then supplied preferably in the vicinity of its upper end with glucose syrup previously led to the vicinity of the upper end of the crystallization zone, the contents of the starting zone being maintained under stirring, the starting of the crystallization here being facilitated by leading preferably to the vicinity of its upper end the recycled fraction of the mass subjected to crystallization previously recycled to the vicinity of the upper end of the crystallization zone, the said fraction being taken up when there is a starting zone at a level of the crystallization zone which is variable and which is selected as a function of the respective importances of the starting and of the crystallization zone, the said level being located in the upper third of the crystallization zone when the starting zone represents about one third of the crystallization zone.

To carry out the abovesaid method, recourse is had, according to the invention,

either to an installation comprising essentially a crystallization vessel of axis preferably substantially vertical and equipped with a feed system of syrup rich in glucose in the vicinity of its upper end, with a system of malaxation of the contents, with a system for the regulation of the temperature adapted to establish within the mass subject to crystallization which fills it, a temperature gradient globally decreasing from top to bottom possibly modulated, with a recycling system for a fraction of the mass subjected to crystallization from an intermediate level spaced from the ends of the vessel by at least one sixth, preferably one fifth and more preferably by at least a quarter of the total length, to a point situated preferably in the vicinity of its upper end, and in the vicinity of its lower end with a system for continuous withdrawal of a product highly enriched in anhydrous dextrose crystals which is led through suitable means to a system adapted to recover said crystals from this product,

or to an installation comprising essentially two vessels of axes preferably substantially vertical arranged preferably one above the other, the axes of the two vessels being preferably substantially in extension of one another,

the first vessel, or crystallization starting vessel, being equipped on the one hand with a feed system of glucose rich syrup in the vicinity of its upper end, on the other hand with a stirring system for the contents of the vessel and with a system for regulation of the temperature adapted to establish inside the vessel a temperature constant at all points and finally with an extraction system arranged in the vicinity of its lower end, this system being adapted to withdraw the mixture of syrup and of crystals formed inside the vessel and to conduct this mixture to a point situated in the vicinity of the upper end of

the second vessel, or crystallization vessel proper,, equipped with a system of malaxation of the contents and with a system for regulation of the temperature adapted to establish in the mass subjected to crystallization which fills it, a temperature gradient globally decreasing from top to bottom which gradient possibly corresponds only to a first part of the vessel, the second part of which being at constant temperature at all points, said second vessel being furthermore equipped, in the vicinity of its lower end, with a continuous extraction system for a product highly enriched in anhydrous dextrose crystals which is led by suitable means to a system adapted to recover the anhydrous dextrose crystals from this product, said installation being in addition equipped with a system of recycling to a point situated preferably in the vicinity of the upper end of the first vessel of a part of the contents of the second vessel taken up at a level situated in the upper third of this second vessel when the starting vessel represents about one third of the crystallization vessel,

or, again to an installation comprising substantially three vessels preferably arranged one above the other, the axes of the three vessels being preferably substantially in extension of one another, the first and the second vessel being arranged as above indicated, being understood that the temperature gradient concerns the whole second vessel, the third vessel comprising stirring and temperature regulation means adapted to establish within said third vessel a temperature constant at all points.

The invention concerns also other features which are preferably used at the same time and which will be more explicitly considered below.

And it will, in any case, be well understood by means of the additional description which follows and the accompanying drawing which relate to advantageous embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1 and 2 of this drawing show diagramatically two variations of an installation according to the invention.

Consequently, in order to prepare crystalline

anhydrous dextrose according to the invention, procedure is as follows or in equivalent manner.

As raw material, there is used a syrup rich in glucose, preferably free from crystals and from nuclei and coming, for example, from a starch hydrolysate; this syrup has a dry matter content higher than 80% preferably from 82 to 90% and more preferably from 85 to 88% by weight the glucose constituting at least 92% and, preferably a proportion higher than 94% by weight of the dry matter.

This syrup is led to a crystallization zone of axis preferably substantially vertical, which it traverses continuously from top to bottom from a point situated in the vicinity of its upper end and within which it is subjected, in the presence of crystals of anhydrous dextrose playing the role of crystallization seeds, to a malaxation and to a temperature gradient globally decreasing from top to bottom.

The temperature of the syrup is brought or kept, at the moment of its introduction into the crystallization zone, to a value above 60.degree. C., preferably selected in the range from 80.degree. to 90.degree. C. and, in practice, in the vicinity of 85.degree. C.

The temperature gradient established inside the crysallization zone in the mass subjected to crystallization corresponds to a reduction of 0.2.degree. to 2.degree. C., preferably from 0.5.degree. to 0.75.degree. C. per hour of treatment and is such that at the outlet of said zone, at a point situated in the vicinity of the lower end of the latter, the mass subjected to crystallization which comprises the syrup, the crystals initially present and those formed by the phenomenon of crystallization, are brought to a temperature above 55.degree. C. and preferably within a range of 58.degree. to 65.degree. C.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the decreasing temperature gradient concerns only a part of the crystallization zone, which part then is followed and/or preceded by a part of the zone in which temperature is constant at all points.

Progressively as the mass subjected to the crystallization approaches the lower end of the crystallization zone, its richness in anhydrous dextrose crystals increases, said mass forming at the outlet of the zone a mass rich in crystals of anhydrous dextrose.

The obtaining, in the vicinity of the lower end of the crystallization zone of this mass rich in crystals which can be extracted continuously without disturbing the parameters of the crystallization process, which disturbance would have had repercussions at the level of the subsequent separation step of the liquid phase and the crystals and which could necessitate intermittent stoppages of the installation, is rendered possible, according to the invention, due to the taking up, at a level distant from the ends of the crystallization zone by at least one sixth, preferably one fifth and more preferably by at least a quarter of the total length, of a fraction of the mass subjected to crystallization which is recycled and reintroduced into the crystallization zone at a level in the vicinity of its upper end.

The fraction taken up and recycled represents, by volume, from 10 to 120%, preferably from 40 to 110% and more preferably from 80 to 100% of the volume of glucose syrup supplying the crystallization zone.

The glucose syrup supply rate is selected so that the average dwell time of a given fraction of the mass subjected to crystallization inside the crystallization zone is from 12 to 120 hours, preferably from 30 to 50 hours; the value selected depends on the composition of the feed syrup and the thermal exchange capacities of the means comprised by the zone, by means of which is established inside said zone within the mass subjected to crystallization, the decreasing temperature gradient.

The viscosity of the mass subject to crystallization which increases progressively as the proportion of angydrous dextrose crystals increases, that is to say in the descending direction, requires that the crystallization zone is, preferably, equipped with means for driving or aspirating adapted to facilitate the transportation of the mass inside the zone.

In addition, the means of malaxation and homogenization comprised by the crystallization zone must be arranged so that dead zones are avoided and that heat exchange between the mass subject to crystallization and the cooling means are as efficient as possible.

Preferably, the abovesaid crystallization zone is preceded, upstream, by an initiation or starting zone for the crystallization, of preferably substantially vertical axis.

In this case, it is towards this initiation zone that the syrup of dextrose preferably substantially free from crystals and from nuclei, which constitutes the raw material is led and which is then brought to pass through this initiation zone whilst being subjected to continued stirring; inside this zone, the syrup is maintained at a substantially constant temperature, less by 2.degree. to 5.degree. C. than the saturation temperature, due to which there is produced initiation of the crystallization which is manifested by formation of a mixture of glucose syrup and of anhydrous dextrose crystals.

The average dwell time of a given fraction of mixture inside this first zone is from 8 to 24 hours, preferably from 10 to 16 hours.

The mixture emerging from the starting zone is then brought to pass through from top to bottom, under malaxation, the abovesaid crystallization zone.

Preferably, the axes of the two zones are arranged in extension of one another.

The temperature of the syrup is brought or maintained, at the moment of its introduction into the second crystallization zone, at a value substantially equal to that of syrup emerging from the first zone.

A temperature gradient, globally decreasing from top to bottom, of 0.2.degree. to 2.degree. C./hour, preferably of 0.5.degree. to 1.5.degree. C./hour, is imposed on the mixture, that is to say on the mass subject to crystallization; avantageously the decreasing temperature gradient concerns only a first part of the crystallization zone, the second part of the latter being then characterized by a temperature substantially constant at all points, the said second part of the crystallization zone playing then the role of a ripening zone; at the level of the upper end of the crystallization zone, the temperature is 75.degree. to 88.degree. C. and at the level of its lower end, this temperature is higher than 55.degree. C., preferably comprised between 58.degree. and 65.degree. C.

The mixture emerging from the second zone is in the form of a crystalline mass rich in crystals of anhydrous dextrose, from which the latter are recovered.

The whole of the mass filling the second crystallization zone traverses this zone in the manner of a "piston", which term is used in the technique.

The starting or initiating of the crystallization at the level of the first zone is favored by the recycling at the level of preferably the upper end of the latter, of a fraction of the mixture passing through the second zone which, in the case where the invention only provides one zone, is recycled to the upper end of this single zone; this recycled fraction representing always from 10 to 120%, preferably 40 to 110% and more preferably from 80 to 100% of the syrup introduced into the first zone; it is taken up at a level of the crystallization zone which is variable and which is selected as a function of the respective importances of the starting and of the crystallization zone, the said level being located in the upper third of the cyrstallization zone when the starting zone represents about one third of the crystallization zone.

As in the case where there is only a single zone, there is extracted continuously, in the vicinity of the lower end of the second crystallization zone, a mass rich in crystals of anhydrous dextrose without disturbance of the parameters of the crystallization process occuring, which disturbance would have the consequences indicated above.

The average dwell time, of a given fraction of the mass subject to crystallization inside the second crystallization zone is from 12 to 120 hours, preferably from 30 to 50 hours; the value adopted depends on the composition of the feed syrup and the heat exchange capacities of the means comprised by this second zone by means of which there is established the decreasing temperature gradient which has been mentioned above.

By reason of the viscosity of the mass subject to crystallization which increases progressively as the proportion of anhydrous dextrose crystals increases, the crystallization zone is, preferably, equipped with means adapted to facilitate the routing of the mass inside the zone.

In the same way, the means of malaxation and homogenization comprised by this second crystallization zone are arranged as in the case of a single zone, so that dead zones are avoided and that the heat exchange between the mass subject to crystallization and the cooling means are as efficient as possible.

Both in the system with two crystallization zones advantageously followed by a ripening zone and in that comprising a single zone, the crystals collected at the outlet of the second crystallization zone show a granulometric spectrum sufficiently limited and an average granulometry sufficiently high to permit great facility of operation in the subsequent steps of draining and of washing the crystals; however, the granulometric spectrum is narrower and the average granulomery higher in the system with two zones.

In the two cases, the granulometry does not vary in time, whence the consequences already indicated at the level of the separation of the crystals which comprises a centrifugal draining and as the case may require a washing due to which a major part of the liquid phase is recovered. THe latter forms mother liquors whose concentration of glucose is less than that of the starting syrup rich in glucose --this concentration is generally higher than 90%--and in which almost the whole of the impurities contained in said starting syrup is again found.

The mother liquors collected may be partly recycled.

Now, in order to carry out the method according to the invention, recourse may in particular be had to the installation which will now be discussed.

In a first embodiment, this installation comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, a single vessel having the form of a cylinder of revolution of axis XY.

The axis XY is preferably substantially vertical.

The vessel is equipped

with a system of supply of syrup rich in glucose at the level of the upper end and shown diagramatically by a pipe 2, with a system of malaxation and of regulation of temperature which will be discussed and with a system for continuous extraction at the level of the lower end of the vessel and shown diagramatically by a pipe 3, this system being adapted to recover the mass rich in dextrose crystals obtained at the outlet of the crystallization vessel; this system of extraction can include aspiration means (not shown) which cooperate to cause the mass subjected to crystallization to pass through the vessel.

The system of malaxation and regulation of temperature which is discussed above may advantageously comprise

a set of malaxation arms 4 borne at regular intervals by a rotary shaft 5 whose axis is merged with the axis XY of the vessel, cooling sheets 6 arranged in alternation with malaxation arms 4 and borne by the wall of the vessel 1, these cooling sheets being traversed by a cooling fluid.

The vessel comprises in addition means shown overall at 7 and adapted

- to take up at an intermediate level 8 of the vessel, spaced from the ends of the vessel by a distance at least representing one sixth of the total height of the crystallization zone and the vessel, a fraction of the mass M subject to crystallization and passing through the vessel from top to bottom and

to recycle this fraction to a level 9 situated preferably in the vicinity of the upper end of the vessel.

The thermal exchange capacity, the system of temperature regulation, the speed of rotation of the malaxation means and the speed with which, under the influence of the aspiration means (not shown), the mass subject to crystallization passes through the vessel, that is to say the average dwell time of a given fraction of this mass inside the vessel, are selected so that there is established, in the whole of the mass subject to crystallization, the temperature gradient provided according to the invention.

It is pointed out that, in practice, the cooling fluid is water and that the average temperature difference at a given point of the vessel between this water and the mass subject to crystallization, is of the order of 2.degree. to 10.degree. C.

In a second embodiment, shown in FIG 2, this installation comprises essentially two vessels 1a and 1b advantageously arranged one (1a) above the other (1b); these vessels are advantageously in the shape of cylinders of revolution with axes X.sub.1, Y.sub.1 and X.sub.2, Y.sub.2 preferably substantially vertical and preferably situated in the extension of one another.

The vessel 1b corresponds to the single vessel of the first embodiment.

The vessel 1a is equipped

with a feed system of syrup rich in glucose at the level of its upper end and shown diagramatically by pipe 12, with a stirring system 13 and with a system of regulation of temperature diagramatically shown at 4 and adapted to establish a constant temperature at all points inside the vessel.

The mixture constituted of glucose syrup and anhydrous dextrose crystals which is formed inside the vessel 1a, flows from the latter at a point 17 situated in the vicinity of the lower end of this vessel; at this point the vessel can comprise a pipe 18 through which the mixture is led to the vessel 1b; it is also possible to provide for the outlet orifice of the vessel 1a to be positioned facing the input orifice of the vessel 1b, the two vessels then being juxtaposed.

As a general rule, it is however the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 which is adopted, the two vessels being arranged, one beneath the other preferably in extension of one another, the pipe 18 playing simultaneously the part of extrction pipe for the vessel 1a and of feed pipe for the mixture of glucose syrup and anhydrous dextrose crystals for the vessel 1b at a point 19 of the latter in the vicinity of its upper end.

The vessel 1b is equipped, like the single vessel 1 of the first embodiment, with the system of malaxation and regulation of temperature already described and comprising

a set of malaxation arms 21 borne at regular intervals by a rotary shaft A whose axis is merged with the axis X.sub.2 Y.sub.2 of the vessel 1b, cooling sheets 22 arranged in alternation with malaxation arms 21 and borne by the wall of the vessel 1b, these cooling sheets being traversed by a cooling fluid.

Still like the single vessel of the first embodiment, the vessel 1b is equipped with a system for continuous extraction at the level of its lower end and shown diagramatically by pipe 20, this system being adapted to recover the mass rich in anhydrous dextrose crystals obtained at the outlet of the vessel 1b.

The system of temperature regulation is arranged so that it permits the establishment inside the vessel 1b, of a temperature gradient globally decreasing downwards of the same kind as the already provided in the case of the single vessel of the first modification.

Avantageously, the vessel 1b may be arranged such that the globally decreasing temperature gradient concerns only a first part of the said vessel, the second part of the latter being then such that the temperature is substantially the same at all points.

Preferably, the vessel 1b comprises in addition means shown globally by a pipe 23 comprising a pump 24 and adapted

to take up at a level 25 of the vessel which is variable and which is selected as a function of the respective importances of the starting and of the crystallization zone, the said level being located in the upper third of the vessel 1b when the starting zone represents about one third of the crystallization zone, a fraction of the mass M subject to crystallization and passing through the vessel 1b from top to bottom and

to recycle this fraction to a level 26 situated preferably in the vicinity of the upper end of the vessel 1a.

The pipe 23 can comprise fragmentation means 27, for example a grinder, adapted to disaggregate the largest anhydrous dextrose crystals contained in the recycled fraction.

Here again, in practice, the cooling fluid is water and the average difference in temperature at a given point of the vessel between this water and the mass subject to crystallization, is of the order of 2.degree. to 10.degree. C.

In a third embodiment, the installation comprises the composing parts of the installation according to the second embodiment except that the second part of the second vessel is materialized by a third vessel independent from the first and the second vessel, this third vessel being located beneath the second vessel preferably in extension of the latter, the said third vessel comprising means adapted to impose to the mass contained therein a temperature substantially constant at all points.

EXAMPLE 1

(a) Recourse is had to an installation according to the first embodiment according to the invention comprising a single cylindrical vessel of useful volume of 3 m.sup.3.

Into this vessel is introduced, with a flow rate of 75 1 per hour, a glucose syrup having a content of dry metter of 86% and comprising 97.5% by weight on dry matter of glucose, the 2.5% remaining being constituted particularly by di- and polysaccharides.

The temperature of the syrup at the inlet of the vessel 1a is about 82.degree. C.

Simultaneously there is recycled, with a flow rate of 30 1 per hour, a fraction of the mass subject to crystallization taken up at an upper level of the vessel spaced from the upper end by a third of the total height.

The average passage duration inside the vessel of a given fraction of the mass subject to crystallization is about 40 hours.

The mass rich in anhydrous dextrose crystals extracted at the level of the lower end of the vessel is found to be at a temperature close to 62.degree. C., the temperature gradient decreasing overall from top to bottom corresponding therefore to about 0.5.degree. C. per hour.

The content of glucose of the mother liquors recovered after separation and washing of the anhydrous dextrose crystals is 96.3% on dry matter, the complement to 100 being constituted by di- and polysaccharides.

The crystallization yield which is given by the formula:

r=A-H/100-H in which A, which represents the richness in glucose of the feed syrup, is equal to 97.5% and H, which represents the richness of the mother liquors, is equal to 96.3% after washing of the crystals, is 33%.

There is produced per day 705 kg of anhydrous dextrose, which corresponds to a productivity of 235 kg per day and per m.sup.3 of the crystallization zone of the vessel.

The crystals collected after draining and washing show excellent physical and chemical properties.

These crystals are of a purity of 99.5% and their granulometric distribution is as follows:

______________________________________crystals of size comprised 20.5%between 200 and 500 micronscrystals of size comprised 27.3%between 100 and 200 micronscrystals of size less 51.4%than 100 microns______________________________________

(b) The same equipment and the same operational conditions are used.

However, at a given moment, after having reached the equilibrium of the system, the recycled fraction is taken up at a level situated outside the range according to the invention.

There is then rapidly witnessed a development of the parameters of the crystallization which is manifested after some hours by poor separation at the level of the centrifuges and which finishes by necessitating the stop-page of the installation and the removal of the mass that it contains before starting up again under the conditions according to the invention.

EXAMPLE 2

(a) Recourse is had to an installation according to the second embodiment according to the invention comprising two cylindrical vessels 1a and 1b of respective useful volumes 1 and 3 m.sup.3.

There is introduced into this vessel 1a, with a flow rate of 80 1 per hour, a glucose syrup having a content of dry matter of 86% and comprising 97.5% by weight on dry matter of glucose, the 2.5% remaining being constituted particularly be di- and polysaccharides.

The temperature of the syrup at the inlet of the vessel 1a is about 86.degree. C.

This vessel 1a is provided with a stirrer and kept at the constant temperature of 82.degree. C.

The average travel time inside the vessel 1a of a given fraction of the mixture of syrup and of dextrose crystals is about 12 hours.

The mixture emerging from the vessel 1a is brought through the pipe 18 at a point 19 of the vessel 1b situated in the vicinity of the upper end of the latter.

Within the vessel 1b, this mixture is subjected to a temperature gradient globally decreasing; the upper temperature of this gradient is 81.degree. C. and the lower temperature is 61.degree. C.

This gradient, decreasing globally from top to bottom, corresponds therefore to about 0.5.degree. C. per hour.

At the level of the point 25 spaced from the upper end of the vessel 1b by 1/5 of the total height is taken up a fraction of the mass subject to crystallization which passes through it and this fraction is recycled to the upper end of the vessel 1a at 26, after having ground the largest crystals in the grinder 27.

The recycled fraction corresponds to 80% of the amount of syrup introduced through the pipe 12.

The mass rich in anhydrous dextrose crystals extracted at the level of the lower end of the vessel 1b through the pipe 20 is at a temperature close to 61.degree. C. and permits the separation of an amount of crystals corresponding by weight to 32% of the mixture.

The separation of the anhydrous dextrose crystals is carried out by centrifugal draining, then the crystals are washed.

The content of glucose of the mother liquors thus recovered is 96.3% on dry matter, the complement to 100 being constituted by di- and polysaccharides.

The crystallization yield which is given by the formula:

r=A-H/100-H in which A, which represents the richness in dextrose of the feed syrup, is equal to 97.5% and H, which represents the richness of the mother liquors in glucose, is equal to 96.3% is established at 32%.

750 kg of anhydrous dextrose are produced daily which corresponds to a productivity of 250 kg daily and per m.sup.3 of the crystallization zone of the installation.

In addition, no disturbance requiring the stoppage of the installation occurs and it operates continuously.

The crystals collected after draining and washing show excellent physical and chemical properties.

These crystals are of a purity higher than 99.5%, their flow index is good and their granulometric distribution is as follows:

______________________________________crystals of size comprised 39.1%between 200 and 500 micronscrystals of size comprised 49.7%between 100 and 200 micronscrystals of size less 9.9%than 100 microns______________________________________

(b) The same equipment and the same operational conditions are used.

However, at a given moment, after having reached the equilibrium of the system, the recycled fraction is taken up at a level situated outside the range according to the invention.

There is then rapidly witnessed a development of the parameters of the crystallization which is manifested after some hours by poor separation at the level of the centrifuges and which finishes by necessitating the stoppage of the installation and the removal of the mass that it contains before starting up again under the conditions according to the invention.

Claims

1. A method for the continuous preparation of anhydrous crystalline dextrose comprising the steps of

introducing a syrup rich in glucose having a richness in glucose higher than 92% by weight, an amount of dry matter higher than 80% by weight and a temperature above 60.degree. C. into a starting zone of substantially vertical axis and having an upper and a lower end for initiation of the crystallization of dextrose, the temperature within said starting zone being substantially constant and less by 2.degree. to 5.degree. C. than the saturation temperature,

causing said syrup to travel through said starting zone under stirring for about 8 to 24 hours at about 80.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. in the presence of anhydrous dextrose crystals acting as crystallization seeds, said syrup and said crystals forming a mixture,

introducing said mixture, whose temperature is about 75.degree. C. to 88.degree. C., when emerging from the starting zone into a crystallization zone separate from the starting zone and of axis substantially vertically arranged substantially in extension of the axis of the starting zone, said crystallization zone having an upper and lower end,

causing said mixture to travel under malaxation through said crystallization zone and subjecting said mixture within said crystallization zone to a temperature gradient decreasing globally from 0.2.degree. to 2.degree. C./hour from the upper to the lower end, the temperature of the upper end being about 75.degree. C. to 88.degree. C. while the temperature of the lower end being above 55.degree. C.,

taking up at a level of the crystallization zone located in the upper third of the crystallization zone when the starting zone represents about one third of the crystallization zone, a fraction of the mixture travelling through said crystallization zone, said fraction representing from 10 to 120% by volume of the amount of glucose syrup introduced into the starting zone,

recycling said fraction to the vicinity of the upper end of said starting zone,

collecting at the lower end of said crystallization zone a crystalline mass rich in anhydrous dextrose crystals, and

recovering said anhydrous dextrose crystals from said crystalline mass.

2. A method for the continuous preparation of anhydrous crystalline dextrose comprising the steps of

introducing a syrup rich in glucose having a richness in glucose higher than 92% by weight, and amount of dry matter higher than 80% by weight and a temperature above 60.degree. C. into a starting zone of substantially vertical axis and having an upper and a lower end for initiation of the crystallization of dextrose, the temperature within said starting zone being substantially constant and less by 2.degree. to 5.degree. C. than the saturation temperature,

causing said syrup to travel through said starting zone under stirring for about 8 to 20 hours at about 80.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. in the presence of anhydrous dextrose crystals acting as crystallization seeds, said syrup and said crystals forming mixture,

introducing said mixture whose temperature is about 75.degree. C. to 88.degree. C. when emerging from the starting zone into a crystallization zone separate from the starting zone and of axis substantially vertically arranged substantially in extension of the axis of the starting zone, said crystallization zone having an upper and a lower end,

causing said mixture to travel under malaxation through said crystallization zone and subjecting said mixture within said crystallization zone to a temperature gradient decreasing globally from 0.2.degree. to 2.degree. C./hour from the upper to the lower end, the temperature of the upper end being about 75.degree. C. to 88.degree. C. while the temperature of the lower end being above 55.degree. C.,

taking up at a level of the crystallization zone located in the upper third of the crystallization zone and spaced from the upper end of the zone by at least 1/5 of its total height when the starting zone represents about one third of the crystallization zone, a fraction of the mixture travelling through said crystallization zone, said fraction representing form 10 to 120% by volume of the amount of glucose syrup introduced into the starting zone,

recycling said fraction to the vicinity of the upper end of said starting zone,

collecting the lower end of said crystallization zone a crystalline mass rich in anhydrous dextose crystals, and

recovering said anhydrous dextrose crystals from said crystalline mass.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said fraction of the mixture travelling through said crystallization zone which is taken up from said crystallization zone, represents from 40 to 110% by volume from the amount of glucose syrup introduced into said starting zone.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the syrup introduced into said starting zone has a richness in glucose higher than 94% by weight, an amount of dry matter of 82 to 90% by weight.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the syrup introduced into said starting zone has a richness in glucose higher than 94% by weight, an amount of dry matter of 85 to 88%.

6. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said syrup travelling under malaxation through said crystallization zone in the presence of anhydrous dextrose crystals acting as crystallization seeds, is subjected within said zone to a temperature gradient decreasing globally from 0.5.degree. to 0.75.degree. C./hour.

7. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said fraction of the mixture travelling through said crystallization zone which is taken up from said crystallization zone, represents from 80 to 100% by volume of said amount of glucose syrup introduced into the said crystallization zone.