ARS | Publication request: 1st stage seed-cotton cleaning total particulate emission factors and rates for cotton gins

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: January 28, 2013
Publication Date: January 28, 2013
Citation: Buser, M.D., Whitelock, D.P., Boykin Jr, J.C., Holt, G.A. 2013. 1st stage seed-cotton cleaning total particulate emission factors and rates for cotton gins. Journal of Cotton Science. REPORT #OSU12-30.

Technical Abstract: This manuscript is part of a series of manuscripts that detail a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack and ambient sampling. The impetus behind the project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on EPA total particulate emission factors. EPA AP-42 emission factors are generally assigned a rating that is used to assess the quality of the data being referenced. The ratings can range from A (Excellent) to E (Poor). EPA current total particulate emission factor ratings for cotton gins are extremely low. Cotton gins received these low ratings because the data was collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective for this study was to collect additional total particulate emission factor data, based on the EPA approved stack sampling methodology, for 1st stage seed-cotton cleaning systems from cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location (geographically diverse), 2) industry representative production capacity, 3) typical processing systems and 4) equipped with properly designed and maintained 1D3D cyclones. In terms of capacity, the seven gins were typical of the industry; averaging 31.8 bales/hr during testing. The average measured total particulate emission factor based on seven tests (18 total test runs) was 0.152 kg/bale (0.334 lb/bale). The emission rate from test averages ranged from 1.87 to 8.93 kg/hr (4.13 to 19.68 lb/hr).