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.