Removing plastic contamination with multiple seed cotton cleaners

Authors: Whitelock, Derek; Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar; Armijo, Carlos; KOTHARI, NEHA - Cotton, Inc; MARTIN, VIKKI - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2023
Publication Date: 4/17/2023
Citation: Whitelock, D.P., Tumuluru, J., Armijo, C.B., Kothari, N., Martin, V. 2023. Removing plastic contamination with multiple seed cotton cleaners. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 10-12, 2023, New Orleans, LA. p. 514-516.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: U.S. and international spinners have experienced some serious contamination issues with US cotton. Of particular concern are plastic contaminants – plastic trash that collects in cotton fields, black plastic film used as mulch in fields, plastic twine typically used for baling, and plastic film used for round module wrap. It was noted in previous testing that seed cotton cleaners remove about 50% of plastic from seed cotton. Other previous testing showed that processing cotton through multiple seed cotton cleaners does not impact lint quality - cotton can be aggressively handled while on the seed and not impact quality. By adding seed cotton cleaners, cotton gins may improve plastic contamination extraction with the added benefit of reducing foreign matter before ginning without reducing fiber quality. This presentation will review the results of testing involving processing seed cotton spiked with plastic pieces through an inclined cleaner and stick machine 1, 2, … 5+ times to determine how much plastic is removed through multiple passes.