PRACTICAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AT A RUSSIAN SUGAR FACTORY

The sugar industry in the Krasnodar region of Russia is outlined, with details of the processes and equipment used in a typical sugar factor y. Comparison is made between Krasnodar and typical EEC sugar quality parameters. A technical assistance programme undertaken at one of the plants is described, and problems encountered in normal factory operat ions and in implementation of the programme are indicated. The most si gnificant modifications initiated by the 3-man team, set up to advise on methods of improving operational performance, included: recycling o f press water to diffusion, major reductions in 1st carbonatation mud recycling to preliming, use of trisodium phosphate in 2nd carbonatatio n, and alterations to the scrapers and wash spray nozzles on the rotar y vacuum filters. Reasons are given for the disappointing results, obt ained, and the essential requirements of a successful technical assist ance programme in a sugar factory of the former Soviet Union are liste d.