Sugar Storage

This depends on the containers the sugar is in, the humidity, and the temperature...and rodents. Also, eliminating oxygen from the storage containers will allow the sugar to remain in present state for 30-40 years, but only do this in each individual container - don't remove all the oxygen from the warehouse...yikes! On a small scale, one can place a one inch cube of dry ice in the bottom of a six gallon bucket, pour in sugar, and put lid on bucket. When the lid bulges, burp it, and continue burping until dry ice is gone. Now the bucket only has about 1% oxygen, seal lid and the sugar will last 40-50 years if kept below 85 degrees F. Can you purchase some ocean cargo containers and get them into your warehouse? If so, these would be excellent large scale containers, and with proper PPE one could flush much of the oxygen out and then seal the doors.

With regard to bulk storage of sugar, check your local regulations for information specific to your country and application as requirements vary greatly from country to country (and even from state to state). Also sugar dust (especially aerated sugar dust) is classified as potentially explosive so depending on your storage and handling methods and local regulations you may need to zone your warehouse as a hazardous area and use special safety electrical equipment and procedures

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_equipment_in_hazardous_areas

Check your local regulations and with your applicable government department in charge of sugar storage for information specific to your country and application.

Chances are you shouldn't need to zone for a hazardous area if you are transporting and storing the sugar in sealed containers and not filling or aerating the sugar in any way, but it pays to check for legal and safety reasons.

Sugar tends to be hygroscopic (more so if not fully refined and crystallized). It can ferment easily if it is damp.

It stores well in airtight packing preferably in the absence of light.

Please do not store in the woven jute or polythene bags as is common in India.

Bioramani