breaks down into invert sugars. These can undergo further breakdown into acids. These breakdown products are not only losses of sucrose, but also have knock-on effects reducing the final output of processed sugar from the factory. To limit (thermophilic) bacterial action, the feed water may be dosed with formaldehyde and control of the feed water pH is also practised. Attempts at operating diffusion under alkaline conditions have been made, but the process has proven problematic. The improved sucrose extraction in the diffuser is offset by processing problems in the next stages. All this results in two products: beet pulp and raw juice. As mentioned before, the beet pulp, or cossettes is moved to other parts of the factory to create livestock feed. The raw juice moves to the next processing step, which might be in the factory, but can also take place in a sugar refinery. Raw sugar processing The next steps to produce white sugar are not specific for producing sugar from sugar beet. They also apply to producing white sugar from sugar cane. As such, they belong to the sugar refining process, not to the beet sugar production process. a Purification / Carbonatation / Sulphonation The raw juice, also called raw sugar, first undergoes purification, carbonatation and sulphonation. First, hot milk of lime is added to precipitate impurities. In the carbonation step, carbon dioxide precipitates the lime and impurities are removed. The resulting thin juice may then undergo the sulphonation step, in which sulfur dioxide is used to bleach this juice. b Evaporation The thin juice is concentrated by evaporation to make a "thick juice", roughly 60% sucrose by weight. c Crystallization The crystallization process starts by depressurizing sugar liquor in vacuum pans which reduces boiling temperature and reduces formation of color compounds. Seed crystals are added to help with formation of crystals. Then it goes through a centrifuge to separate crystals from the remaining sugar liquor. The remaining liquor is then again boiled and centrifuged, producing brown sugar and molasses. d Molasses recovery Since the molasses still contained sugar, it was advantageous to recover it. The Steffen Process was used to recover some, so advanced factories had a "Steffen house" next to the plant. Molasses can also serve to produce monosodium glutamate (MSG). Byproducts Carbonation-lime residue During the refining process, raw beet sugar requires much more lime for purification. Carbonation-lime residue contains about 80% Calcium carbonate and