Process Design of Multifeed and Multiproduct Sugar Factories

Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya 60111, Indonesia.

^* Corresponding author: rendra@its.ac.id

Abstract

Indonesia’s journey toward food self-sufficiency faces challenges with declining sugar production from seasonal sugarcane harvesting. To overcome this, alternative year-round and abundant sources like coconut sap and sorghum offer potential solutions. This study tackles the decreasing trend in sugar production through the optimization of a miniplant utilizing multifeed sources sugarcane, coconut sap, and sorghum to produce white crystal, brown sugar, and syrup. The objective is to ensure yearround plant operation. The process design focuses on maximizing profits, considering total sales and operational costs related to raw materials, water, and steam. Constraints are implemented to production capacities for sugarcane (15,000 kg/day), coconut sap (6,000 kg/day), and sorghum (9,000 kg/day). Maximizing the potential of alternative biomass materials involves a combined feed of coconut sap and sorghum raw material. The design process flow involves sugar production using only sugarcane feed for the first 4 months and, for the subsequent 8 months, transitioning to a combined feed of coconut sap and sorghum to create multiproduct sugar. From the design process achieved maximum profit of Rp7,096,618,000.00. This research provides valuable insights into diversifying sugar production, promoting sustainability and economic viability in Indonesian sugar industry.