Gin Trash Research Articles

Evaluation of Composite Films Containing Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Cotton Gin Trash

The purpose of this work was to explore the possibility of using cotton gin trash (CGT) as an inexpensive and biodegradable filler for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH). CGT was milled and screened to give fine particles, and the particles less than 150 um in size were used together with three PVOH polymers (with 1–20% vinyl acetate levels) to form composites. Up to 60% by weight of CGT could be incorporated into PVOH to form composite films. Relative to PVOH, these PVOH/CGT films showed reduced tensile strength and elongation at break but enhanced Young’s modulus. CGT was chemically modified through acetylation and succinylation; however, no significant improvement in mechanical properties was observed with these modifications, although acetylated CGT did exhibit somewhat improved elongation at break relative to unmodified CGT for the two PVOH polymers with higher vinyl acetate contents. Thus, for PVOH applications that need reduced cost but can tolerate decreased tensile strength and elongation, cotton gin trash can be used as a cost-effective filler.

Preparation and evaluation of composites containing polypropylene and cotton gin trash

AbstractComposites of polypropylene (PP) and cotton gin trash (GT) were prepared to enhance the utilization of agro‐based materials in industrial products. GT was modified by two methods: toluene washed only, and toluene washed and treated with maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (MAPP). These GT samples were extruded with PP, including MAPP and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer in various weight ratios (32 composites total). The PP composites displayed tensile strengths close to that of the neat PP, and exhibited higher values of tensile modulus and lower elongation at break than the neat PP. Based on DSC measurements, the PP composites containing 10 wt% GT exhibited two crystalline regimes, while those containing 20 wt% GT were similar in crystallinity to that of the neat PP. The composites were also characterized using SEM, TGA, water absorption tests, and contact angle measurements. These composites represent a more sustainable alternative to neat, fossil fuel‐based PP.

Product Distribution and Characteristics of Pyrolyzing Microalgae (Nannochloropsis oculata), Cotton Gin Trash, and Cattle Manure as a Cobiomass

Microalgae has proven potential for producing products that are accepted as an alternate energy source. An attempt is made to further improve the efficiency of pyrolysis in terms of product yields and characteristics by adding cotton gin trash and cattle manure as a mixed feedstock (cobiomass). A statistically significant number of treatments were made by mixing different amounts of cotton gin trash and cattle manure with microalgae (Nannochloropsis oculata). These treatments were pyrolyzed at different temperatures (400 to 600 °C ) and product yields and characteristics were analyzed. The pyrolysis of cobiomass resulted in higher yield for bio-oil and char as compared to microalgae alone. An operating temperature of 500 °C was found to be the best suitable for high bio-oil yield. The high heating values (hhv) of bio-oil were observed to be maximum at 500 °C and for syngas and char, the heating value slightly increased with further increase in temperature. Comparatively, the bio-oil (30 MJ/kg) had higher heating values than char (17 MJ/kg) and syngas (13 MJ/kg). The combustible material decreased whereas fixed carbon and ash content increased in char with an increase in temperature. The bio-oil produced from cobiomass had abundant aliphatics and aromatics with low nitrogen content making it a better alternative fuel than bio-oil produced by microalgae alone. The mixing of different biomass helped improving not just the quantity but also the quality of products.

Effects of utilizing cotton byproducts in a finishing diet on beef cattle performance, carcass traits, fecal characteristics, and plasma metabolites.

Increased cotton production in the Southwestern United States has increased the availability of cotton byproducts for use in cattle diets. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the inclusion of cotton byproducts in feedlot finishing diets on the performance, carcass traits, fecal characteristics, and plasma metabolites of steers. Crossbred beef steers (n = 64; BW = 318 ± 12.3 kg) were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (8 pens per treatment; 4 steers per pen). Treatments included a control (CON) diet, which included prairie hay, Sweet Bran, rolled corn, and a corn steep and molasses-based liquid fat supplement, and a cotton byproduct (CTN) diet, which included cotton gin trash, whole cottonseed, rolled corn, and water. Both diets contained urea and dry supplement. Over the entire feeding period, DMI (P = 0.04) was greater for CTN steers than CON steers with no difference in the gain to feed ratio (P = 0.86) between treatments. The CTN steers tended to have heavier final BW (P = 0.09) and greater overall average daily gain (P = 0.08). The CTN steers had heavier hot carcass weight (P = 0.02) and greater fat thickness (P = 0.03) than CON steers, but marbling score and rib eye area were not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.64). Steers fed the CON diet tended to have a lower yield grade (P = 0.07), less kidney, pelvic and heart fat (P = 0.09), and decreased dressing percentage (P = 0.10) than CTN steers. Liver scores did not differ (P ≥ 0.17) between treatments. Fecal consistency scores were decreased for CTN steers on day 56 (P = 0.03) and fecal pH tended to be greater for the CTN steers on day 28 (P = 0.09) compared with CON steers, but neither differed during other periods (P ≥ 0.18). A treatment × day interaction (P = 0.04) was detected for plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations, where PUN concentrations differed between treatments only on days 28 and 56. On both days 28 and 56, CTN steers had lower PUN concentrations (P = 0.03, P = 0.002, respectively). No treatment × day interaction was detected for plasma glucose or lactate concentrations. A day effect was observed for both metabolites (P < 0.01). Results from this experiment suggest that cotton byproducts can be effectively used as a source of fiber, fat, and protein in feedlot rations without adverse effects on performance or carcass characteristics.

431 Late-Breaking: The effects of including cotton byproducts in a finishing ration on the performance, carcass characteristics, and fecal characteristics of crossbred beef steers

Abstract Increased cotton production in the Southwest U.S. has increased the availability of cotton byproducts for use in cattle diets. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the inclusion of cotton byproducts in feedlot finishing rations on the performance, carcass characteristics, and fecal characteristics of steers. Crossbred beef steers (n = 64; BW = 318 ± 12.3 kg) were assigned to 1 of 2 experimental treatments in a randomized complete block design (8 pens/treatment; 4 steers/pen). Treatments included a control (CON) diet (7% hay, 15% wet corn gluten feed, 67% rolled corn, 5% liquid supplement) and a cotton byproduct (CTN) diet (7% gin trash, 15% whole cottonseed, 72% rolled corn, 5% water). Both diets included 0.75% urea and 5% dry supplement. The CTN steers tended to have a heavier final BW (P = 0.09) and greater ADG (P = 0.08). Over the entire feeding period, DMI was greater for CTN steers than CON steers (P = 0.04) with no difference in G:F between treatments (P = 0.89). The CTN steers had heavier HCW (P = 0.02) and greater fat thickness (P = 0.03) than CON steers, but marbling score and REA were not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.64). Steers fed the CON diet tended to have a lower YG (P = 0.07), less KPH fat (P = 0.09), and lower dressing percentage (P = 0.10) than CTN steers. Liver scores did not differ between treatments (P ≥ 0.17). Fecal scores were lower for CTN steers on d 56 (P = 0.03) and fecal pH tended to be higher for the CTN steers on d 28 (P = 0.09), but neither differed during other periods (P ≥ 0.18). These results suggest that cotton byproducts can be used in feedlot rations without adverse effects on performance or carcass characteristics.

Sorption properties of fabricated film from cotton gin trash

Cotton gin trash (CGT), is an abundant waste material produced during the ginning process of cotton fibre. In this current work, biodegradable films were prepared from the whole CGT through mixing with formic acid in a single-step procedure. The preliminary results showed that the fabricated film had a higher water absorbency compared to the raw material, proportional to the amount of CGT present in the film. Furthermore, the fabricated film had notable dye removal properties comparable with the dye adsorption of granular activated carbon. The initial outcome suggests the potential application of CGT films as an adsorbent material, e.g., filter for dye separation from wastewater.

Mechanically milled powder from cotton gin trash for diverse applications

There are very few reports, if any, on the physicochemical changes during the powder fabrication of cotton gin trash (CGT), an abundant source of lignocellulose. This particular study can be very informative for the production of new CGT composite materials. In our current study, we investigated the changes in particle size, morphology, surface area, chemical structure, crystallinity, thermal and moisture properties of CGT at different stages of the milling operation. An attritor milling of CGT up to 4 h reduced the particle size (from 144.2 μm to 6.2 μm) and enhanced the surface area up to 2.5 times without damaging its original properties, including crystallinity and chemical structure. Milling operation beyond 4 h did not further reduce the particle size effectively, though affected the thermal stability of CGT. Overall, it is suggested that the milled CGT can be a sustainable source of lignocellulose powder for use in a wide area of applications.

Chemical volatiles present in cotton gin trash: A by-product of cotton processing.

Cotton gin trash (CGT), a waste product of cotton gins, make up about 10% of each bale of cotton bolls ginned. The current study investigates high value volatile compounds in CGT to add value to this by-product. The volatile compounds in CGT and different parts of the cotton plant were extracted using various methods, identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and then quantified by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) against available standards. Terpenoids including monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids were found to be the most abundant, making up 64.66% (area under peak) of total volatiles extracted by hydro-distillation. The major extractable terpenoids in CGT were α-pinene (13.69–23.05 μg/g), β-caryophyllene (3.99–74.32 μg/g), α-humulene (2.00–25.71 μg/g), caryophyllene oxide (41.50–102.08 μg/g) and β-bisabolol (40.05–137.32 μg/g). Recoveries varied between different extraction methods. The terpenoids were found to be more abundant in the calyx (659.12 μg/g) and leaves (627.72 μg/g) than in stalks (112.97 μg/g) and stems (24.24 μg/g) of the cotton plant, indicating the possible biological origin of CGT volatiles. This study is the first to identify and quantify the different terpenoids present in CGT and significantly, β-bisabolol, an abundant compound (sesquiterpene alcohol) which may have valuable biological prospects. These findings therefore contribute to identifying alternative management strategies and uses of CGT.

Physicochemical properties of film fabricated from cotton gin trash

Cotton gin trash (CGT), an agro-industrial waste material produced during the ginning operation of cotton fibre, is a sustainable source of material to fabricate biodegradable polymer. Earlier research conducted on the preparation of polymer from different fractions of cotton trash such as linters, burrs and seed hulls cannot be pursued, as physical separation of these individual parts is quite difficult and impractical; the linters entangling all fractions. In our current study, we have used the whole cotton gin trash to fabricate films using formic acid (FA) with different CGT/FA weight ratios (0.5/99.5, 1/99, 3/97, 5/95 and 7/93) in a one-step process. Further, we investigated the structural changes, crystallinity, thermal property, tensile characteristics, wettability and biodegradability of the CGT films. The crystallinity of the films increased with increasing proportion of formic acid. The films were thermally stable up to 200 °C without any glass transition point. The tensile strength of the films was comparable to commercial low density polyethylene. The films produced in this study were found to be biodegradable. Therefore, the overall results have well exposed the CGT as a potential sustainable source for material production.

Improved Cellulosic Ethanol Titres from Highly Lignified Cotton Trash Residues Using Various Batch and Fed-Batch Process Configurations

This study investigates a fed-batch simultaneous saccharification fermentation (F-SSF) process to increase ethanol titres from highly lignified (41.6 wt.%) cotton gin trash residue. The optimal initial solid loading, enzyme dose, feed quantities and intervals to maximize substrate feed and subsequent ethanol titres were examined. Under batch SSF conditions, initial extracted cotton gin trash (ECGT) solid loadings were maximised at 19.35 wt.% and attained an ethanol titre of 23.3 g/l with a corresponding yield of 53.7%. Operating under optimised F-SSF mode, fermentations were initiated with 16.13 wt% EGCT solids followed by fresh ECGT feeds of 16.13 wt% and 12.9 wt.% at 12-h intervals. Cellulase levels were maintained at 44 FPU/g glucan throughout the fermentations. The final ethanol titre of 41 .4 g/l with a corresponding conversion rate of 70.1% was achieved after 72 h. Comparable ethanol yields of 40 g/l with 67.8% conversion were realized with lower cellulase dosing (25 FPU g/glucan) but only after extending the fermentation by 24 h.

Improving the Surface Areas and Pore Volumes of Bio-char Produced from Pyrolysis of Cotton Gin Trash via Steam Activation Process

Improving the Surface Areas and Pore Volumes of Bio-char Produced from Pyrolysis of Cotton Gin Trash via Steam Activation Process

Two-Stage Pretreatment Process Validation for Production of Ethanol from Cotton Gin Trash

This study reports on the evaluation of a two-stage pretreatment process for preparing cotton gin trash (CGT) for conversation to ethanol. During the first stage, CGT was mixed with acid at 12% H2SO4 on solids and heated to 180 °C for 15 min in a pressurised stirred reactor. Pressed first-stage pretreated fibres were heated to 200 °C for 5 min during the second stage. The two-stage process facilitated excellent sugar recovery from both cellulose (84%) and hemicellulose (78%) fractions of CGT. Recombinant yeast GSF335 propagated on first-stage liquors yielded 41.8 g kg−1 of dry CGT and was compared with the commercial yeast during separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentations (SSF). SHF of pretreated CGT fibre yielded the equivalent of 66.2 and 64.0 kg ethanol per tonne of unprocessed CGT with GSF335 and the commercial yeast, respectively. SSF ethanol yields for the commercial yeast were significantly lower (50.3 kg) while GSF335 correspondingly produced 63.8 kg ethanol per tonne of raw CGT.

Refining spent cotton gin trash following essential oil extraction for value added cellulosic sugars

The effectiveness of high temperature, dilute H2SO4 and NaOH pretreatments for the conversion of a post extracted cotton gin trash (ECGT) biomass was investigated. Whole acidified ECGT slurries were pretreated at various temperatures (180–230 °C) with or without the addition of extra catalyst. Compositional analysis of recovered ECGT fibre revealed xylan removal increased with pretreatment temperature under low pH conditions. Alkaline pretreatment (20 wt% NaOH) selectively delignified the ECGT fibre by as much as 80%. Characterisation of structural features identified an increase in cellulose crystallinity and surface area for all pretreated fibres and positively correlated to increasing pretreatment severity. Pretreatment of acidified ECGT slurries at 230 °C resulted in the highest glucan digestibility (66%) and glucose yields (51%). Glucan digestibility showed a strong positive correlation to xylan removal and surface area but weaker to delignification and total crystallinity for all dilute acid pretreated fibres.

A two stage pretreatment process to maximise recovery of sugars from cotton gin trash

We evaluated a two stage pretreatment process for liberation of sugars from cotton gin trash (CGT) for ethanol production. The 1st stage releases C5 sugars for propagation of yeast inoculum intended for C6 sugar fermentations. The effects of a range of dilute acid hydrolysis pretreatment conditions on CGT were assessed. Propagation of recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae GSF335 in 1st stage liquors yielded up to 66 g yeast biomass kg−1 CGT. In the presence of PEG 6000, 2nd stage pretreated fibres were highly acquiescent to enzyme hydrolysis, yielding up to 242 g glucose kg−1 CGT. We conclude that the optimum conditions for recovery of sugars from CGT are: 1:6 solids to liquids ratio with 12% H2SO4 wt. on solids at 180 °C for 15 min during the 1st stage, with the ensuing pressed unwashed fibre heated to 200 °C for 5 min during the 2nd stage.

Identification of multienzymatic complexes in the Clonostachys byssicola secretomes produced in response to different lignocellulosic carbon sources

Multienzymatic complexes with plant lignocellulose-degrading activities have recently been identified in filamentous fungi secretomes. Such complexes have potential biotechnological applications in the degradation of agro-industrial residues. Fungal species from the Clonostachys genus have been intensively investigated as biocontrol agents; however so far their use as producers of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes has not been extensively explored. Secretomes of Clonostachys byssicola following growth on different carbon sources (passion fruit peel, soybean hulls, cotton gin trash, banana stalk, sugarcane bagasse, orange peel, and a composition of soybean hulls: cotton gin trash:orange peel) were subjected to enzymatic assays. Remarkable differences were observed among the samples, especially regarding levels of mannanase and pectinase activities. Secretomes were then subjected to Blue Native PAGE in order to resolve putative protein complexes which subsequently had their composition revealed by trypsin digestion followed by LC–MS/MS analysis. The protein bands (named I, II, III and IV) were shown to be composed by holocellulolytic enzymes, mainly cellulases and xylanases as well as proteins involved in biocontrol processes, such as chitinases and proteases. The high diversity of proteins found in these multicatalytic assemblies confirms C. byssicola as a novel source of plant biomass-degrading enzymes.

Chemical Properties of Biochar Materials Manufactured from Agricultural Products Common to the Southeast United States

The use of biochar as a soil amendment has fostered much attention in recent years due to its potential of improving the chemical, physical, and biological properties of agricultural soils and/or soilless substrates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical properties of feedstocks, common in the southeast United States, and their resulting biochar products (after being torrefied) and determine if the chemical properties were within suitable ranges for growers to use the biochar products as root substrate components. Poultry litter biochar produced at 400 °C for 2 hours had a higher total phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), chloride (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), sodium (Na), and zinc (Zn) concentration than biochar made using the same process with mixed hard wood species, miscanthus (Miscanthus capensis), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) gin trash, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), rice (Oryza sativa) hull, and pine (Pinus sp.) shavings feedstocks. The pH of the biochar products ranged from 4.6 for pine shaving biochar to 9.3 for miscanthus biochar. The electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 0.1 dS·m−1 for mixed hardwood biochar to 30.3 dS·m−1 for poultry litter biochar. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the biochar products ranged from a low of 0.09 meq/g for mixed hardwood biochar to a high of 19.0 meq/g for poultry litter biochar. The water-extractable nitrate, P, K, Ca, Mg, sulfate, boron, Cl, Cu, Fe, Mo, Na, and Zn were higher in poultry litter biochar than in all of the other types of biochar. The high EC and mineral element concentration of the poultry litter biochar would prevent its use in root substrates except in very small amounts. In addition, the high degree of variability in chemical properties among all of the biochar products would require users to know the specific properties of any biochar product they used in a soil or soilless substrate. Modifications to traditional limestone additions and fertility programs may also need to be tested and monitored to compensate for the biochar pH and mineral nutrient availability. Users should be aware that biochar products made from different feedstocks can have very different chemical properties even if the same process was used to manufacture them.

Biological Importance of Cotton By-Products Relative to Chemical Constituents of the Cotton Plant.

Although cultivated for over 7000 years, mainly for production of cotton fibre, the cotton plant has not been fully explored for potential uses of its other parts. Despite cotton containing many important chemical compounds, limited understanding of its phytochemical composition still exists. In order to add value to waste products of the cotton industry, such as cotton gin trash, this review focuses on phytochemicals associated with different parts of cotton plants and their biological activities. Three major classes of compounds and some primary metabolites have been previously identified in the plant. Among these compounds, most terpenoids and their derivatives (51), fatty acids (four), and phenolics (six), were found in the leaves, bolls, stalks, and stems. Biological activities, such as anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities, are associated with some of these phytochemicals. For example, β-bisabolol, a sesquiterpenoid enriched in the flowers of cotton plants, may have anti-inflammatory product application. Considering the abundance of biologically active compounds in the cotton plant, there is scope to develop a novel process within the current cotton fibre production system to separate these valuable phytochemicals, developing them into potentially high-value products. This scenario may present the cotton processing industry with an innovative pathway towards a waste-to-profit solution.

1681 Intake, digestibility, and performance of hair sheep lambs fed with ammoniated cotton gin trash treated with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes

1681 Intake, digestibility, and performance of hair sheep lambs fed with ammoniated cotton gin trash treated with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes

Effects of Pyrolysis Temperature on Product Yields and Energy Recovery from Co-Feeding of Cotton Gin Trash, Cow Manure, and Microalgae: A Simulation Study.

The intensive search of new and cleaner energy catches interest in recent years due to huge consumption of fossil fuels coupled with the challenge of energy and environmental sustainability. Production of renewable and environmentally benign energy from locally available raw materials is coming in the frontline. In this work, conversion of the combined biomass (cotton gin trash, cow manure, and Microalgae [Nannochloropsis oculata]) through batch pyrolysis has been investigated. The effect of temperature to the production of energy fuels such as bio-oil, char, and biogas have been simulated considering the yield and energy content as responses. Result of the investigation generally revealed that the proportions of the different biomass did not significantly affect the product yield and energy recovery. Significant effect of temperature is evident in the simulation result of energy recovery whereby maximum conversion was achieved at 400°C for char (91 wt%), 600°C for syngas (22 wt%), and 551°C for bio-oil (48 wt%). Overall energy conversion efficiency of 75.5% was obtained at 589°C in which 15.6 MJ/kg of mixed biomass will be elevated to pyrolysis products.

Using Agricultural Residue Biochar to Improve Soil Quality of Desert Soils

A laboratory study was conducted to test the effects of biochars made from different feedstocks on soil quality indicators of arid soils. Biochars were produced from four locally-available agricultural residues: pecan shells, pecan orchard prunings, cotton gin trash, and yard waste, using a lab-scale pyrolyzer operated at 450 °C under a nitrogen environment and slow pyrolysis conditions. Two local arid soils used for crop production, a sandy loam and a clay loam, were amended with these biochars at a rate of 45 Mg·ha−1 and incubated for three weeks in a growth chamber. The soils were analyzed for multiple soil quality indicators including soil organic matter content, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and available nutrients. Results showed that amendment with cotton gin trash biochar has the greatest impact on both soils, significantly increasing SOM and plant nutrient (P, K, Ca, Mn) contents, as well as increasing the electrical conductivity, which creates concerns about soil salinity. Other biochar treatments significantly elevated soil salinity in clay loam soil, except for pecan shell biochar amended soil, which was not statistically different in EC from the control treatment. Generally, the effects of the biochar amendments were minimal for many soil measurements and varied with soil texture. Effects of biochars on soil salinity and pH/nutrient availability will be important considerations for research on biochar application to arid soils.