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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #277553
Title: Botanical trash mixtures analyzed with near-infrared spectroscopy

Author
item Fortier, Chanel
item Rodgers Iii, James
item Foulk, Jonn

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2012
Publication Date: 4/16/2012
Citation: Fortier, C.A., Rodgers III, J.E., Foulk, J.A. 2012. Botanical trash mixtures analyzed with near-infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings of the 2012 National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference,January 3-6,2012,Orlando,Florida. p.1254-1256.

Interpretive Summary: The study herein reports on the feasibility of using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to analyze botanical cotton trash mixtures. Binary mixtures of pure component trash types, (hull, leaf, seed coat, stem), were prepared and analyzed using NIR spectroscopy. The NIR method was successfully used to determine binary trash mixtures of large raw trash in the absence of cotton with high accuracy (greater than 95%). The results of analyzing pepper-sized trash mixtures in the presence of cotton were limited by the sensitivity of the NIR instrument. The NIR method is offered as a “proof of concept” tool which yields the identity of the trash type mixtures present with cotton. In comparison, conventional methods to analyze trash using the High Volume Instrument (HVITM) or Shirley Analyzer do not yield information about the origin of cotton trash.

Technical Abstract: Botanical cotton trash mixed with lint reduces cotton’s marketability and appearance. During cotton harvesting, ginning, and processing, trash size reduction occurs, thus complicating its removal and identification. This trash causes problems by increasing ends down in yarn formation and thus processing efficiency. The High Volume Instrument (HVI™) and Shirley Analyzer are extensively used to determine trash levels in cotton lint, but they do not specifically identify its origin. This study was performed to determine the potential for recognizing differences between botanical cotton trash mixtures via Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. A “proof of concept” was demonstrated that shows the promise of NIR spectroscopy to be employed to identify binary mixtures of botanical cotton trash. The results of this study are presented herein.