FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY ANALYSIS OF MODIFIED COTTON TRASH EXTRACTS

Authors: Allen, Angela; Foulk, Jonn; Gamble, Gary

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2005
Publication Date: 6/8/2006
Citation: Allen, A.M., Foulk, J.A., Gamble, G.R. 2006. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of modified cotton trash extracts. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. p. 1938.

Interpretive Summary: The United States Department of Agriculture (USA) has been involved in a continuing research to improve the efficiency and quality of cotton throughtout the ginning and textile processes by identifying botanical trash (ex. leaf, stem, seed, hull, and others) found in cotton. There are present techniques that are being employed to detect the physical size and weight of trash in cotton, but there is a need to be able to classify types of trash during various parts of processing. The goal is to subject different trash samples to conditions seen in ginning and textile processes. Prior to performing extractions, trash samples were reduced from their raw sample size to pepper size and powder form, and then subjected to heat treatments. Mid-infrared spectroscopy was used for the fundamental analysis of these different trash extractions.

Technical Abstract: There is ongoing research effect at the United States Department of Agriculture to improve an existing spectral database, where botanical cotton trash samples are identified through mid-infrared spectroscopy. Leaf, hull, shale, stem, seed, and other trash samples have been reported to be problematic in the efficiency and quality of cotton throughout the textile spinning processes. Currently, several techniques are being employed to detect the presence of trash in cotton (ex. Shirley Analyzer, AFIS, and HVI) based on physical size and weight. However, more innovative methods need to be explored in order to classify specific types of trash found in cotton during different segments of ginning and textile processing. This research simulated ginning and textile processes by subjecting botanical trash samples to various size reductions and thermal conditions. Prior to performing extractions, trash samples were reduced from their raw sample size using a Wiley Mill with 20 and 80 meshes, and then subjected to heat treatments. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was used for the fundamental analysis of these different trash extractions under simulated ginning the textile processing conditions. Collected IR data indicate this technique to be a potential approach in locating definite regions for evaluating any differences that might occur during processing.