Resumen de Factors inf luencing caking of cane sugar

María Lourdes Hernández Reyes, Juan Valente Hidalgo-Contreras, Aleida S. Hernández Cázares, Juan Pascual

• ABSTRACT Objective: To identify variables that inf luence the cane sugar caking process in order to develop a path diagram showing the possible cause-effect relationship between caking and the factors leading to it.

  Design/methodology/approach: The methodological work was based on a literature review of the subject following a search through the databases of indexed scientific journals.

  Results: Based on the literature review, the most cited causal factors of cane sugar caking are physicochemical properties, packaging, and storage conditions. These factors were used in constructing the path diagram of the caking phenomenon.

  Study limitations/implications: Studies carried out on the cause-effect relationship behind this phenomenon have been very limited as evidenced by the small number of scientific papers found on this subject in the search. Additionally, most of these articles are not recent.

  Findings/Conclusions: The main factors affecting the development of caking in cane sugar can be classified as: physicochemical (moisture, product temperature and particle size), packaging (liner) and storage conditions (ambient relative humidity and temperature).