Evaluation of emerging technologies: Importance of correct analytical procedures

Development of new technologies often requires revisiting analytical methods used routinely for monitoring factory performance. For example, introduction of membrane filtration or chromatography in both the beet or cane sugar industries will affect the quality of processed juices and syrups. Conventional analytical methods work well for comparison of the results for established technologies. The methods specific to a certain component of a solution are less affected by technology change. However, the bulk methods, such as refractometry, polarimetry, spectroscopy, etc., reflect the cumulative contribution of various components. Therefore, for example, the same purity or color of a solution may result in different processing characteristics of juice or syrup and different quality of the final product. Examples are discussed showing the differences in analysis of color, lime salts content, polarization, dextrans in case of introduction of membrane and chromatographic technologies.