Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #290696
Title: Combined lint cleaning system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins

Author
item BUSER, MICHAEL - Oklahoma State University
item Whitelock, Derek
item Boykin Jr, James
item Holt, Gregory

Submitted to: World Wide Web
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/24/2013
Publication Date: 1/24/2013
Citation: Buser, M.D., Whitelock, D.P., Boykin Jr, J.C., Holt, G.A. 2013. Combined lint cleaning system PM2.5 emission factors and rates for cotton gins. National Cotton Gin Technical Reports. Report #OSU12-07. Available: http://buser.bioen.okstate.edu/air-quality/national-cotton-gin-technical-reports.

Interpretive Summary:

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 micrometers (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 lint cleaning 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. Three of the seven gins had 1st and 2nd stage lint cleaning systems that the exhaust airstreams were combined. In terms of capacity, the three gins were typical of the industry, averaging 33.6 bales/hr during testing. Average measured PM2.5 emission factor based on the three tests (9 total test runs) was 0.014 kg/bale (0.030 lb/bale). The project emission factors for PM10 and total particulate were 0.128 kg/bale (0.281 lb/bale) and 0.233 kg/bale (0.513 lb/bale), respectively. The PM2.5 emission rate from test averages ranged from 0.17 to 0.80 kg/hr (0.37 to 1.75 lb/hr). The ratios of PM2.5 to total particulate, PM2.5 to PM10, and PM10 to total particulate were 5.9, 10.8, and 54.8%, respectively.