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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409856
Research Project: Improving the Production and Processing of Western and Long-Staple Cotton and Companion Crops to Enhance Quality, Value, and Sustainability

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Comparing foreign matter removal and lint quality from an experimental pneumatic fractionator and a conventional saw-type lint cleaner

Author
item Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar
item Delhom, Christopher
item Armijo, Carlos
item Whitelock, Derek
item FUNK, PAUL - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2024
Publication Date: 4/18/2024
Citation: Tumuluru, J., Delhom, C.D., Armijo, C.B., Whitelock, D.P., Funk, P.A. 2024. Comparing foreign matter removal and lint quality from an experimental pneumatic fractionator and a conventional saw-type lint cleaner. 2024 National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, Fort Worth, Texas, January 3-5, 2024. Presentation only.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the present study, ginned fiber was processed through two types of lint cleaners, a conventional saw-type and an experimental pneumatic type, to understand and compare the impact on foreign matter removal and lint quality of saw ginned Upland cotton. Tests on the pneumatic fractionator were carried out by varying the lint moisture content (5-16%, w.b.), line pressure (40-80 psi), and residence time (15-45 sec). The saw-type lint cleaner was operated according to manufacturer’s specifications (saw operated at 1000 rpm and had a combing ratio of 24) with a lint moisture content of about 5% w.b. Fiber quality from the lint cleaners was evaluated using the HVI and AFIS test methods. The results indicated that the lint quality after the pneumatic fractionation was strongly influenced by lint moisture content followed by residence time and pressure. The foreign matter removal was more influenced by line pressure. Compared with the conventional saw-type lint cleaner used by the industry, some of the conditions tested using the pneumatic fractionator produced lint with better length parameters such as upper half mean length, uniformity index, and other parameters such as micronaire, strength, and trash content.