Location: Cotton Production and Processing Research
Title: Mechanization, research, and best practices to mitigate plastic contaminationAuthor
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2022 Publication Date: 5/11/2022 Citation: Wanjura, J.D. 2022. Mechanization, research, and best practices to mitigate plastic contamination. Plastics in Cotton III Seminar. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Plastic contamination in lint bales continues to plague the United States cotton industry due to the use of harvesters that wrap modules in plastic before post-harvest handling and processing. Improper handling of cylindrical or round modules in the field or at the gin can increase the risk of contamination. This presentation discusses research to develop new technologies and handling methods for round modules that help to mitigate plastic contamination. Research in this area from the three USDA ARS Cotton Gin Labs will be discussed in general. Specifically, inspection systems used at the module feeder for identifying potential contamination events resulting from module wrap damage prior to unwrapping and/or handling practices that increase the risk of contamination will be covered. Performance enhancements to camera systems used on gin stands to identify colored contaminants will be discussed in addition to the implementation of a newly adopted industry standard for round module wrap material performance. |
