Determination of dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide in the sugar production chain

• Grant number: 18/02064-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Claudio Lima
• Grantee: Guilherme Hernandez Loretti
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the conventional crystal sugar production process, the use of sulfur dioxide can produce reduced sulfur compounds - TRS (Total Reduced Sulphur), which are characterized as a mixture of various compounds containing in its structure the reduced form of sulfur. These compounds are associated to implications on human health, essentially linked to sensitive people, can cause allergy, nausea, diarrhea, and damage to the respiratory system. The purpose of this work is to determine and track the presence of dimethyl sulphide and dimethyl disulphide in the crystal sugar production chain. Sugar samples will be collected at sugar and alcohol mills at the Piracicaba region, collecting samples from the broth extraction stage until the final product dispatch stage. The identification of the reduced sulfur compounds, as well as glucose, fructose and sucrose profiles will be possible through the use of high performance liquid chromatography.