Cotton stickiness before and after saw ginning

Abstract

The objective of this research work was, to study the level of stickiness and type of sugars found on commercially grown cotton varieties (Gossypium hirsutum L.), collected before and after saw ginning. To identify the types of sugars in the sticky deposits collected from the H2SD aluminum foil, it was assayed with high performance liquid chromatography. Trehalulose was found as the dominant sugar from the Tendaho cotton growing area which demonstrates insect’s honeydew contamination in this growing area. Finally, FTIR was used to investigate the nature of infrared radiation absorption between trehalulose contaminated and non-contaminated cottons. Cotton samples for the FTIR study, were selected based on their high-speed stickiness detector readings and sugar content as determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The principal component analysis of FTIR spectra permitted to discriminate between trehalulose contaminated and non-contaminated cottons. Trehalulose was responsible for creating sticky residue.