Adsorption, chromatography and membrane technology are discussed as separat
ion processes in general and particularly in respect of their current and p
otential applications in the sugar industry. The porosity of the materials
used for separation is regarded as the common characteristic of these proce
sses. Ideally, separation takes place either without interaction, according
to the size of the particles or molecules to be separated, or with a super
imposed (specific) accumulation in the pores. The paper also looks at the u
ndesirable formation of covering layers and the movement of substances thro
ugh the walls of sugar beet cells during extraction and pressing.