Improved processes for the purification of raw or refined sugar, or sucrose, to produce sucrose and sucrose-related products having substantially no inorganic impurities are described, wherein the processes include the use of both cation and anion exchange resins. In accordance with the process, a sucrose starting material, such as refined sugar or invert syrup, is dissolved in water at a temperature sufficient to dissolve the sucrose product and produce a low visicosity sucrose solution having not more than about 76 wt. % solids. Thereafter, the process includes contacting the low viscosity sucrose solution with one or more ion exchange resin beds, which can be separate or mixed, for a time sufficient to yield a highly-purified sucrose product that is substantially free of inorganic elemental impurities.