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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #77522

Title: OVERVIEW OF NEW EMISSION CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR COTTON GINS

Author
item Baker, Roy
item Hughs, Sidney
item GREEN, J. - TEXAS COTTON GINNERS ASSC

Submitted to: Cotton Ginners' Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: U.S. cotton gins are required to comply with strict dust and lint fly emission standards established by state and federal air quality control agencies. While emission control requirements vary somewhat from state to state, all states require gins to apply for operating permits that limit daily and annual dust emissions. In many cases gins can comply with emission standards by using a basic control package consisting of cyclone collectors and covered condenser drums. In some instances, however, additional controls are necessary to achieve satisfactory emission levels. This report describes basic control technology as well as a number of alternative control techniques that can be used when additional controls are necessary. Several newly developed control techniques are also described.

Technical Abstract: Cost effective control of particulate emissions has become a major objective of most U.S. cotton ginners. This need has been driven not only by changes in a number of state and federal regulations, but also by the ginners' desire to be good neighbors to local residents and businesses. An effective trash handling and emission control system has also become an essential element in modern high production ginning. As a result, a lot of excellent work has been done in the past few years to reduce emissions from cotton gins. Basic emission control technology, including several alternative methods of control, are reviewed in this paper. Researchers and vendors continue to research and develop new and potentially more effective control systems. Even though most of these new systems have not been tested under a wide range of conditions, a general description of some of the more promising ones are also presented.