Fourier-Transform Imaging of Cotton and Botanical and Field Trash Mixtures

Chanel Fortier,Krystal Fontenot,James Rodgers,Michael Santiago Cintrón,Donna Peralta

doi:10.3390/fib5020020

Abstract

Botanical and field cotton trash comingled with Upland cotton lint can greatly reduce the marketability and quality of cotton. Trash found comingled with cotton lint during harvesting, ginning, and processing is of interest to the textile community. In the current study attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic imaging was employed as an analytical technique to analyze cotton trash. Some benefits of this technique were its non-destructive nature and lack of required sample preparation. The technique used in this study, specifically ATR-FTIR spectroscopic chemical imaging, allows for three-dimensional spectral and spatial data to be obtained. In the current study, cotton in mixtures with botanical and field trash types have been identified spectrally and spatially using ATR-FTIR imaging. Botanical trash types (trash derived from the cotton plant) were evaluated and identified independently from cotton, even though both contained cellulose. The field trash types were easily identified from cotton due to their differences in chemical composition. This study can complement current cotton qualitative studies by adding spectral and spatial information to sample analysis.

Highlights

IntroductionCotton is a global commodity with many uses (apparel, mattresses, personal care products, etc.).Contamination or cotton trash can occur in the ginned cotton due to both botanical trash (from plant sources) and non-botanical sources (such as plastics), making the study of its contamination very important [1]
Cotton is a global commodity with many uses.Contamination or cotton trash can occur in the ginned cotton due to both botanical trash and non-botanical sources, making the study of its contamination very important [1]
Based on their spectral peak shape and physical characteristics, the botanical trash was more challenging to investigate, whereas the field trash types were more amenable to this investigation

Summary

Introduction

Cotton is a global commodity with many uses (apparel, mattresses, personal care products, etc.).Contamination or cotton trash can occur in the ginned cotton due to both botanical trash (from plant sources) and non-botanical sources (such as plastics), making the study of its contamination very important [1]. Knowing the trash types present with cotton could lead to improved ginning and processing to decrease the deleterious effects cotton trash can cause on cotton lint [2]. The High Volume Instrument (HVI® ), Shirley Analyzer, and human “classers” are used to classify cotton trash [3]. The HVI® method must be carried out in a climate-controlled environment, has a high cost, lacks the specificity of identifying trash types, and gives the percentage of trash content by image analysis. The human “classers” can lead to a lack of reproducibility between measurements from person to person. The Shirley Analyzer, a gravimetric technique, is unable to provide specific information on trash types

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Conclusion