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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 #282912
Title: Portable color spectrophotometer measurement of cotton color in remote locations

Author
item Rodgers Iii, James
item SCHILD, GUSTAVE - Cotton, Inc
item Cui, Xiaoliang
item Delhom, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/27/2013
Publication Date: 8/20/2013
Citation: Rodgers III, J.E., Schild, G., Cui, X., Delhom, C.D. 2013. Portable color spectrophotometer measurement of cotton color in remote locations. Journal of Cotton Science. 17:202-211.

Interpretive Summary: The Uster® High Volume Instrument (HVI®) is used in the U.S.A. to classify cotton, including cotton color. The cotton color parameters measured on the HVI® are Rd (diffuse reflectance) and +b (yellowness). Comments from industry have indicated that some cotton bales appeared to have changed significantly in +b (yellowness) from their initial HVI® color measurements. As a result of these reports, there was interest in “on-site”/remote location measurements of cotton color that will yield “real time” color values, with emphasis on yellowness. A program was implemented to develop portable color spectrophotometer procedures and protocols in order to perform rapid, precise, and accurate cotton fiber color measurements at-line in remote locations and to interface those results into the Cotton Incorporated Engineered Fiber Selection® (EFS®) System MILLNet™ software. Standard tiles and cotton samples from the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and routine cotton samples were used to perform comparative evaluations so as to establish the relationships between the HVI® Rd and +b and portable spectrophotometer L*a*b* color parameters. The best correlations were achieved between 1) the HVI® +b and portable spectrophotometer b* and 2) the HVI® Rd and spectrophotometer Y. Excellent comparative results were obtained, and all end-state criteria were achieved. The portable color spectrophotometer results were interfaced with the EFS® System MILLNet™ software, and preliminary field trials were performed on over 400 bale samples at a non-U.S.A based mill. Very good color agreement was observed between the mill’s HVI® unit and the spectrophotometer - MILLNet™ system, with distinct and significant +b color shifts detected.

Technical Abstract: The Uster® High Volume Instrument (HVI®) is used in the U.S.A. to classify cotton, including cotton color. The cotton color parameters measured on the HVI® are Rd (diffuse reflectance) and +b (yellowness). Comments from industry have indicated that some cotton bales appeared to have changed significantly in +b (yellowness) from their initial HVI® color measurements. As a result of these reports, there was interest in “on-site”/remote location measurements of cotton color that will yield “real time” color values, with emphasis on yellowness. A program was implemented to develop portable color spectrophotometer procedures and protocols in order to perform rapid, precise, and accurate cotton fiber color measurements at-line in remote locations and to interface those results into the Cotton Incorporated Engineered Fiber Selection® (EFS®) System MILLNet™ software. AMS standard tiles and cotton samples and routine cotton samples were used to perform comparative evaluations so as to establish the relationships between the HVI® Rd and +b and portable spectrophotometer L*a*b* color parameters. The best correlations were achieved between 1) the HVI® +b and portable spectrophotometer b* and 2) the HVI® Rd and spectrophotometer Y. Excellent comparative results were obtained, and all end-state criteria were achieved (high R2s, low spectrophotometer analytical variability, and a low number of outliers). The HunterLab MiniScan EZ (MSEZ) results were interfaced with the EFS® System MILLNet™ software, and preliminary field trials were performed on over 400 bale samples at a non-U.S.A based mill. Very good color agreement was observed between the mill’s HVI® unit and the MSEZ- MILLNet™ system, with distinct and significant +b color shifts detected.