Molasses, cane-sugar, composition

Composition. Molasses composition depends on several factors, eg, locality, variety, sod, climate, and processing. Cane molasses is generally at pH 5.5—6.5 and contains 30—40 wt % sucrose and 15—20 wt % reducing sugars. Beet molasses is ca 7.5—8.6 pH, and contains ca 50—60 wt % sucrose, a trace of reducing sugars, and 0.5—2.0 wt % raffinose. Cane molasses contains less ash, less nitrogenous material, but considerably more vitamins than beet molasses. Composition of selected molasses products is Hsted in Table 7. Procedures for molasses analysis are avadable (59). 

The composition of molasses varies from year to year, since it depends on many factors, such as variety of sugar cane or beet, soil type, climatic conditions (rainfall, sunshine), time of harvesting, process conditions, etc. 

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