There is confusion in the literature about the meaning of words such as “trash”, “dirt”, “soil”, “extraneous matter” and “cane”. This is regrettable as it affects the value of data when general trends are investigated.

In 1996 de Beer et al. highlighted the fact that sugarcane is a “whole crop”. Tops (immature portion of the stalk and green leaves attached to it, “To”) and trash […]

This Blackboard follows directly from the previous one. The procedures used by Berding (2010) are given below. To simplify the descriptions the terminology used in the text is given in […]

In 1968 Hoarau discussed the press method for determining fibre, pol and Brix in cane delivered by growers. This method, in conjunction with core sampling of cane from vehicles, was […]

In 1968 Buchanan reviewed the use of first expressed juice (FEJ) for the distribution of sucrose in cane consignments. Variable fibre % cane values, the lack of juice homogeneity and […]

The importance of obtaining representative samples from heterogeneous materials and the difficulties involved in doing so are discussed in analytical chemistry texts. Kolthoff et al. (1969) for example note that all […]

Moore (1972) states that crystallography, the science of the structure of crystals, began when relations between the faces of crystals were determined; in 1969 the interfacial angles (angle between lines […]

Spencer & Meade (1945) note than losses fall into two categories: determined losses, that is losses which can be measured, such as pol losses in bagasse and in filter cake, […]

Material balances over the pan floor are often needed. Here a 3-boiling system with a refinery liquor input, producing high pol raw sugar and final molasses is considered. Again the […]