New Markets for Cotton By: Seshadri Ramkumar Texas Tech University, USA
2019 Cotton Association of India Conference, Mumbai, March 7, 2019
What We Do? Mission-linked Research To make cotton competitive against synthetic fibers
Our laboratory focuses on finding sustainable and industrial applications for cotton To find new applications for greige and low micronaire cotton such as sorbent for oil spills Why? Cotton is a natural and a biodegradable material
Cotton: Projects Underway
Industrial products from cotton Green process for cotton
Oil Spill: A Threat to the Ecosystem • Oil spills occur during transport, production, storage refining, and its use • Oil gets transferred through the food chain 1
• One drop of oil can make up to 25 liters of water unfit for drinking 2 • Permeant effects on soil such as reduction in soil permeability, maximum dry density, optimum water content and strength due to exposure to oil 3 Source: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Sabir, S., Approach of Cost-Effective Adsorbents for Oil Removal from Oily Water. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2015. 45(17): p. 1916-1945. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/permitting/wastewater/factstats.pdf (accessed 11/22/2016) Khamehchiyan, M., A. Hossein Charkhabi, and M. Tajik, Effects of crude oil contamination on geotechnical properties of clayey and sandy soils. Engineering Geology, 2007. 89(3-4): p. 220-229 Oil Spills Fast Facts (http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/13/world/oil-spills-fast-facts/ , accessed on 11/20/2016)
Classification of Oil Sorbents Oil Sorbents
Natural Materials
Polymers
Source: Deschamps, et al. Environmental Science & Technology, 37, 1013-1015, 2003
Processed Materials
Low Micronaire Issue •
Low micronaire results in shortcomings in length
uniformity •
Longer cottons have lower micronaire values
•
Low micronaire cottons (if maturity is low) translates into weaker yarns
“As long as low micronaire problem is there, length uniformity problem will be there” Source: Dr. Mourad Krifa, Kent State University
Persistent Issues Addressed • Low Micronaire: Serious concern for the 2017 cotton • Lubbock: Avg Mic 3.38 • Lamesa: Avg Mic 3.83 (Classing Office Data, Season ending 11/23/17)
• Microplastic Issue: Low Mic Cotton Products Offers Solution
Materials Raw cotton fiber samples were obtained from Kitten Land Company, Lubbock, TX
Oil Used: Raw Crude Oil ( Midland, Texas ) Characteristics of Crude Oil at Room Temperature (25±1 ºC )
Oil
Viscosity (CP)
Density (g/cm3)
Surface Tension (mN/m)
Crude Oil ( Midland ,Texas)
30
0.97
30.39
High Volume Instrument (HVI) Characteristics Strength (g/tex)
Uniformity index (%)
Sample
Micronaire
Length (inches)
Cotton A
3.1
33
28.6
80.1
Cotton B
3.5
36
27.6
81
Cotton C
4.3
36
30.9
83.5
Cotton D
4.4
35
30
81
Cotton E
4.5
36
30.6
83.3
Cotton F
4.6
34
29.1
81
•Micronaire: 1 repeat/ sample and 3 sample / cotton type •Length, Uniformity, Strength and Elongation: 2 repeat/ sample and 3 sample / cotton type
Advance Fiber Information Systems (AFIS) Characteristics Sample
Cotton A Cotton B Cotton C Cotton D
Cotton E Cotton F
Fineness (militex)
Immature Fiber Content (%)
Maturity Ratio
149
8.7
0.84
154
8.4
0.83
167
7.1
0.87
168
6
0.89
173
6.4
0.88
175
5.7
0.89
•Fineness, IFC, Maturity ratio: 1 repeat/ sample and 3 sample / cotton type
ASTM( F726-06)- Standard Test Method for Sorbent Performance of Sorbents
Results & Discussions
Adsorption−interaction of cotton waxes with the hydrocarbons of oil Absorption−oil retention within the fiber matrix causing swelling of fibers Capillary Retention−wicking and physical entrapment of oil between the fibers
Results & Discussions
Results & Discussions
Oil sorption capacity of raw cotton fibers in relationship to fiber characteristics
Results & Discussions
Crude oil sorption by raw cotton in oil-water system
Conclusions In low micronaire cottons, the combination of higher surface area and increased fineness lead to higher sites for surface adsorption and interfiber capillary sorption which in-turn results in higher absorption of oil within the fiber than the coarser and more mature high micronaire cotton fibers
Oil Sorption Oil Sorption by Raw Cotton Batts
Materials & Methods Fibrous Materials
Raw cotton fibers (Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, Lubbock, TX)
Oil Used
Non-detergent motor oil, Diesel Motor Oil and Vegetable Oil
Preparation of Sample
Continuous batt formation of cotton fibers
Oil Characteristics Oil
Non-detergent Motor oil
Diesel Motor Oil
Vegetable Oil
Surface tension*
31.44
27.56
32.92
Density*
0.925
0.878
0.917
( g.cm-3) Dynamic viscosityÂś
0.1398
0.1997
0.0502
ACCEL
Mobil
Crisco
(mN.m-1)
( Pa.s) Source *Kruss
Tensiometer, K-100 SF was used to determine surface tension and density Âś Brookfield LV, DV++, Pro Viscometer was used to determine the viscosity Oil Characteristics were measured at 21 oC
Experimental Setup for Oil Sorption Testing
Results & Discussions
*p < 0.05
BET Surface Area Cotton 1−0.661 m2.g-1 Cotton 2−0.462 m2.g-1
Results & Discussions
Summary 1.
One gram of low micronaire cotton batts absorbs about 50 grams of oil
2. The enhanced oil sorption capacity exhibited by cotton-1(low micronaire) is mainly due to high surface area of the fiber available for adsorption of oil and strong intermolecular interaction of C-H bond
between wax and the oil
Major Outcomes and Societal Impacts
September 4, 2014
Source: http://www.tiehh.ttu.edu/News/Pages/News.aspx
Acknowledgments Special thanks to these supporters: • Texas State Support Committee Members and the US Cotton Producers • Dr. Kater Hake and Dr. Don Jones of Cotton Incorporated • Mr. Steve Verett, Mr. Shawn Wade and staff of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. • Mr. Tony Williams and Mr. Aaron Nelson of TCGA • Graduate students and research scholars in my laboratory
Questions?