First stage lint cleaning system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins: Method 201A combination PM10 and PM2.5 sizing cyclones

Authors: Whitelock, Derek; BUSER, MICHAEL - Oklahoma State University; Boykin Jr, James; Holt, Gregory

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/21/2013
Publication Date: 12/30/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5399138
Citation: Whitelock, D.P., Buser, M.D., Boykin Jr, J.C., Holt, G.A. 2013. First stage lint cleaning system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins: Method 201A combination PM10 and PM2.5 sizing cyclones. Journal of Cotton Science. 17(4):368-379.

Interpretive Summary: In 2006, the US Environmental Protection Agency implemented a more stringent air quality standard for very fine dust smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. All cotton gins will eventually be impacted by this standard. The primary issue affecting the cotton industry across the country is that cotton gins may not be regulated fairly, because very little scientifically sound information is available on cotton gin emissions of this very fine dust. In response, seven cotton gins at locations across the Cotton Belt were sampled by the three USDA-ARS Cotton Ginning Laboratories and Oklahoma State University to determine the amount of very fine dust emitted while processing cotton. Four of the seven gins had first stage lint cleaning systems that were not combined with other systems. It was found that the first stage lint cleaning systems at the gins sampled emitted on average 0.019 pounds of the fine dust for every 500-pound bale of cotton produced, which was about 8% of the total dust emitted from the system. This information provides previously unavailable estimates for fine dust emissions from cotton gins and, thus, will ensure that cotton gins are appropriately permitted and accounted for in state and federal regulations. Furthermore, this may allowing many gins to avoid installing additional dust control measures with substantially higher capital and operating costs that will impact the ginning cost to the farmer.

Technical Abstract: This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. In 2006, EPA finalized and published a more stringent standard for particulate matter with nominal diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5). This created an urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues, because current EPA AP-42 cotton gin PM2.5 emission factors did not exist. The objective of this study was the development of PM2.5 emission factors for cotton gin 1st stage lint cleaning systems based on the EPA approved stack sampling methodology, Method 201A. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location (geographically diverse), 2) industry representative production capacity, 3) typical processing systems, and 4) equipped with properly designed and maintained 1D3D cyclones. Four of the seven gins had 1st stage lint cleaning systems with exhaust airstreams that were not combined with 2nd stage lint cleaning systems. In terms of capacity, the four gins were typical of the industry, averaging 27.8 bales/h during testing. Some test runs were excluded from the test averages because they failed to meet EPA Method 201A test criteria. Also, other test runs included in the analyses had cotton lint fibers that collected in the = 10 µm and/or = 2.5 µm samples. This larger lint material can impact the reported emissions data, but EPA Method 201A does not suggest methods to account for these anomalies. Average measured 1st stage lint cleaning system PM2.5 emission factor based on the four tests (10 total test runs) was 0.0086 kg/227-kg bale (0.019 lb/500-lb bale). The 1st stage lint cleaning system average emission factors for PM10 and total particulate were 0.054 kg/bale (0.118 lb/bale) and 0.109 kg/bale (0.240 lb/bale), respectively. The 1st stage lint cleaning system PM2.5 emission rate from test averages ranged from 0.066 to 0.78 kg/h (0.15-1.72 lb/h). System average PM10 and total particulate emission factors were lower than those currently published in EPA AP-42. The ratios of 1st stage lint cleaning system PM2.5 to total particulate, PM2.5 to PM10, and PM10 to total particulate were 7.9, 16.1, and 49.1%, respectively.