Description

Saccharum Officinarum is the scientific name for sugarcane, a species of grass belonging to the Poaceae family. It is a perennial plant native to tropical and subtropical regions, primarily used for extracting sugary juice.

Chemical Composition and Structure:

Carbohydrates: the main chemical component is sucrose, but sugarcane also contains other sugars like glucose and fructose.
Fiber: the plant is rich in fiber, which is an important byproduct in the sugar industry.
Minerals: it contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron.
Vitamins: it may provide small amounts of vitamins, such as vitamin B and C.
Polyphenols: antioxidant compounds found in the leaves and juice.

Physical Properties:

Appearance: the plant is tall and can reach heights of 3-4 meters. It has long, narrow leaves and small flowers that form a spike.
Color: the canes are light green to brown and may have reddish or purplish streaks.
Solubility: sugarcane juice is highly soluble in water and can be concentrated to produce crystalline sugar.

Production Process:

Cultivation: sugarcane is grown in warm, humid climates. It requires well-drained soil and abundant irrigation.
Harvesting: mature canes are cut and transported to mills for juice extraction.
Extraction: the juice is extracted from the canes through pressing.
Filtration: the extracted juice is filtered to remove impurities and fibers.
Crystallization: the filtered juice is concentrated and crystallized to produce sugar.
Refining: raw sugar is further refined to produce white sugar or other sugary products.
Byproduct Utilization: cane fibers, called bagasse, are used as biomass for energy production or as paper material.

Applications:

Food Industry: sugarcane juice and its derivatives are used as sweeteners in various food products and beverages.
Cosmetics: sugarcane extract is used in cosmetics and skincare products for its exfoliating and moisturizing properties.
Chemical Industry: sugarcane is employed in the production of bioethanol and other chemical products.

Environmental and Safety Considerations:

Sugarcane cultivation can have significant environmental impacts, such as deforestation and intensive use of water and pesticides. It is important to adopt sustainable agricultural practices to minimize these effects. Sugarcane juice and its derivatives are generally considered safe for food and cosmetic use, but quality and purity must be monitored to ensure consumer safety.

INCI:


Binder agent. Ingredient that is used in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products as an anti-caking agent with the function of making the product in which it is incorporated silky, compact and homogenous. The binder, either natural such as mucilage, gums and starches or chemical, may be in the form of a powder or liquid.

Emulsion stabiliser. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsion stabilisers improve the formation and stability of single and double emulsions. as well as their shelf-life. It should be noted that in the structure-function relationship, the molar mass of the ingredient used plays an important role.

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.
Synonyms:

CAS: 91722-22-4 EC number 294-424-5