The process of purifying sugar to achieve a higher degree of sweetness and clarity.
Hydrated lime plays a crucial role in the process of extracting sugar from both sugar cane and sugar beets. It is additionally employed to refine sugar derived from alternative sources, such as maple or sorghum, albeit these are generated in significantly lesser amounts.

The harvesting and processing of sugar cane and sugar beets involve the use of water to extract raw juice, characterised by its low pH and the presence of dissolved impurities. Hydrated lime is introduced to the juice to elevate the pH level and to engage with impurities, resulting in the formation of insoluble calcium organic compounds that can subsequently be eliminated. Excess lime is eliminated through carbonation or by incorporating phosphoric acid. The procedure can be reiterated multiple times contingent upon the desired purity of the final product.