Factors responsible for the spontaneous combustion of molasses:
In the case of certain factories when the low-grade massecuite are boiled at a little high temperature. T
he certain ingredients of molasses are overheated & thus causing higher carbon content.
After centrifuge the final molasses is sent to storage tanks with high temperature means without cooling it.
The open tank in which the molasses is stored are exposed to the direct heat from the sun. With the direct heat of the sun entering the molasses, the combustion is helped by the higher temperature of the heat of the sun particularly in the month of summer.
Precaution to Avoid Spontaneous Combustion of Molasses:
The quality of the molasses in storage tanks should be regularly monitored with a check on the total reducing sugars. The deterioration of molasses due to chemical reactions during storage can be avoided by proper cooling of molasses to ambient temperatures prior to storage. The molasses temperature (inlet) should below 45 oC.
There must be throughout cold-water recirculation arrangement around the wall of the tank in day of the summer season.
Appropriate venting in the molasses stored tank.