Storage and characterization of cotton gin waste for ethanol production

F.A. Agblevor, J.S. Cundiff, C. Mingle and W. Li

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2006, vol. 46, issue 2, 198-216

Abstract: In 2002, about 17.1 million bales of cotton were ginned in the United States and the estimated cotton gin waste was 2.25×109kg. The disposal of cotton gin waste (CGW) is a significant problem in the cotton ginning industry, but CGW could be potentially used as feedstock for bioethanol. Freshly discharged CGW and stored CGW were characterized for storage stability and potential for ethanol production by determining their summative compositions. The bulk densities of the fresh wet and dry CGW were 210.2±59.9kgm−3 and 183.3±52.2kgm−3, respectively. After six months of storage the volume of piles A, B, and C decreased by 38.7%, 41.5%, and 33.3%, respectively, relative to the volume of the pile at the start of the storage. The ash content of the CGW was very high ranging from 10% to 21% and the acid-insoluble fraction was high (21–24%). The total carbohydrate content was very low and ranged from 34% to 49%. After three months storage, chemical compositional analysis showed the loss of total carbohydrates was minimal but after six months, the losses were as high as 25%. This loss of carbohydrates suggests that under open storage conditions, the feedstock must be processed within three months to reduce ethanol yield losses.

Keywords: Cotton gin waste; Summative composition; Total carbohydrates; Glucan; Storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:46:y:2006:i:2:p:198-216

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.07.002

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