ARS | Publication request: Combined mote system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: January 25, 2013
Publication Date: January 25, 2013
Citation: Buser, M.D., Whitelock, D.P., Boykin Jr, J.C., Holt, G.A. 2013. Combined mote system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins. Journal of Cotton Science. Report #OSU12-12.

Technical Abstract: This manuscript is part of a series of manuscripts that detail a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack and ambient sampling. The impetus behind the project was the 2006 EPA implementation of a more stringent standard for particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and the fact that there was very little available cotton gin PM2.5 emissions data. The objective for this study was the development of PM2.5 emission factors for cotton gin combined mote systems based on the EPA approved stack sampling methodology, Other Test Method 27. 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. Two of the seven gins had 1st and 2nd stage mote systems that the exhaust airstreams were combined. In terms of capacity, the two gins were typical of the industry; averaging 35.1 bales/hr during testing. Average measured PM2.5 emission factor based on the two tests (6 total test runs) was 0.009 kg/bale (0.021 lb/bale). The project emission factors for PM10 and total particulate were 0.137 kg/bale (0.301 lb/bale) and 0.141 kg/bale (0.311 lb/bale), respectively. The PM2.5 emission rate from test average ranged from 0.22 to 0.45 kg/hr (0.47 to 0.99 lb/hr). The ratios of PM2.5 to total particulate, PM2.5 to PM10, and PM10 to total particulate were 6.7, 7.0, and 96.7%, respectively.