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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #417566
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: Bioethanol production potential from cotton gin residues

Author
item KAUR, GUNDEEP - State University Of New York- College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
item Tumuluru, Jaya Shankar
item Armijo, Carlos
item Whitelock, Derek
item KUMAR, DEEPAK - State University Of New York- College Of Environmental Science And Forestry

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2024
Publication Date: 7/29/2024
Citation: Kaur, G., Tumuluru, J., Armijo, C.B., Whitelock, D.P., Kumar, D. 2024. Bioethanol production potential from cotton gin residues. 2024 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 28-31,2024, Anaheim, California. Presentation only.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cotton gin residue, a byproduct of the cotton ginning process, poses a significant challenge in the cotton industry due to its abundant generation and difficult waste management owing to the strict environmental regulations. One of the solutions for this could be the utilization of cotton gin byproducts for the production of biofuels such as bioethanol, thus, being consistent with the circular economy and environmental preservation concepts. The present study explores the detailed chemical composition of cotton gin residues for their potential conversion to bioethanol. The seed cotton gin byproduct samples that were primarily composed of clean lint, hulls, motes, seeds, sticks, and dirt were collected during the ginning process. The samples were produced using three different cotton varieties (FM1911, DP 359, and NG4545), processed using three ginning methods (saw, roller, and reciprocating), and harvested using two different (stripper and picker) methods. Two different byproduct samples were collected during the ginning process; one was collected during super jet cleaning, and the other was collected during the lint cleaning. The composition of biomass will be determined as per laboratory analysis protocol (LAP) from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Water-soluble and ethanol-soluble extractives will be determined using the Soxhlet apparatus and a sequential extraction. The extractive-free biomass samples will be used to determine structural carbohydrates and lignin content using a two-step acid hydrolysis process. These results will help in understanding the variability of carbohydrates and lignin among various residue samples to determine the ease with which multiple residues could be processed in a single facility running a single process. Theoretical maximum ethanol yields from all feedstocks will be calculated on the basis of sugar content.