Lean molasses is produced by refining beet molasses by a chromatographic process using a resin column; Due to the difference in movement speed of the various components, caused by the difference in physical properties of the various components, a separation is created between the components in the resin column.

The beet molasses is thus separated into three streams

betaine molasses
sugar syrup
Lean molasses (lean molasses)

No additions are made to the process other than the process water. To optimize the separation process, the incoming molasses is conditioned / softened (calcium removal) by raising the pH to 9-11 by adding sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). This explains the somewhat higher pH.