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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206766
Title: Picking Cotton - and Nothing Else

Author
item Himmelsbach, David
item HOGAN, HANK - EDITOR, PHOTONICS SPECTRA

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2006
Publication Date: 12/15/2006
Citation: Himmelsbach, D.S., Hogan, H. 2006. Picking cotton - and nothing else. Photonics Spectra 40(12) 34-37 (December).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The picking of cotton by mechanical means includes the collection of extensive foreign matter that seriously affects the cotton grade and thus the price per bale. Rapid identification of the nature of the extraneous matter in cotton at each stage of cleaning and processing is necessary to permit actions to eliminate or reduce its presence and improve efficiency and the quality of cotton. An attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared database has been developed that enables the rapid chemical identification of retrieved foreign matter. The method is envisioned to be employed with stand-alone rugged infrared instrumentation to provide specific identification of extraneous materials in cotton as opposed to only general classification of the type by particle size or shape.