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Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 10/5/1996 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Saw-type lint cleaners at cotton gins improve the grade and market value of the cotton. However, improper or over-cleaning can reduce the value of the cotton and some of the quality factors desired at the textile mill. A 2-year experiment was conducted to study lint cleaner options for lint cleaning machinery that are normally available at cotton gins. The objective was to obtain information that would aid in recommending cleanin options that produce acceptable grades and market value of the bale while maintaining fiber quality. Six lint-cleaner treatments were studied that involved combinations of air-type and saw-type lint cleaners, including split-streaming of the saw cleaners. One standard saw-cylinder lint cleaner gave the highest average bale value for the experiment, but there were few cases where highest bale values were obtained with other lint- cleaning sequences. The air-type cleaner did not improve the leaf grade but created less short fibers and neps than the saw cleaner. The results will provide guidance to ginners in selecting profitable lint cleaning arrangements, and aid scientists in formulating research to improve the efficiency of lint cleaning systems without creating more short fibers or imperfections in the cotton. Technical Abstract: A two-year study was conducted in 1991-92 to obtain information that would aid in recommending lint cleaner options for lint cleaning machinery that are normally available at cotton gins. Six cleaning sequences that involved combinations of air-type and saw-type lint cleaners, including split-streaming of the saw cleaners, were evaluated for their effect on bale market value and fiber quality. Using smooth and hairy-leaf varietie the AMS classing system where color and leaf grade factors are separated, and market prices prevailing in 1994-95, one standard saw-cylinder lint cleaner gave the highest average bale value over the whole test. This was obtained with an average color grade of Strict Low Middling White (41) and leaf factor of 4 or above. The air-type cleaner did not improve the leaf grade but created less short fibers and neps than the saw cleaner. The air cleaner also tended to reduce the number of motes in the lint. Split streaming one saw lint cleaner at a one-half feed rate improved the cleaning efficiency but it was lower than the efficiency for two saw-type lint cleaners in series; two saw cleaners gave the higher nep count. Results indicated cases where highest bale values would be obtained with one air and one saw cleaner combination or two stages of saw lint cleaning. |
