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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211097

Title: LABORATORY DETECTION OF PLASTICS IN SEEDCOTTON WITH ION MOBILITY SPECTROMETRY

Author
item Funk, Paul
item EICEMAN, GARY - NMSU
item WHITE, COREY - NMSU
item WHITE, W - NMSU

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2008
Publication Date: 11/1/2008
Citation: Funk, P.A., Eiceman, G.A., White, C.R., White, W. 2008. Laboratory detection of plastics in seedcotton with ion mobility spectrometry. Journal of Cotton Science. 12:237-245.

Interpretive Summary: This paper reports research that demonstrated the possibility of detecting small amounts of plastic contamination in cotton at the stage between harvest and ginning. Detecting contamination at the first stage of processing means it is less likely to be spread throughout large amounts of clean material. The analyzer used was initially developed to detect warfare chemicals. Reversing its polarity allowed it to detect chemicals that are common to almost all plastic materials. Detection is the first step to removing plastic contamination. Making it possible for the US cotton industry to offer pure cotton may increase market share and value.

Technical Abstract: The US cotton industry wants to increase market share and value by supplying pure cotton. Removing contamination requires developing a means to detect plastics in seedcotton. This study was conducted to determine if Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) could be used to find small amounts of plastic in a matrix of heated seedcotton. Commercial IMS analyzers equipped with membrane inlets sampled air displaced from heated flasks containing seedcotton and five common plastic contaminants; bale twine, new and weathered polypropylene tarp, polyethylene film and plastic grocery bags. In the first of two sets of experiments the temperature was varied from 85 to 115°C to determine its influence on vapor emissions; in the second, air samples were taken from seedcotton containing various amounts of each plastic. Vapors from plastics associated with cotton contamination were detected with IMS in negative polarity; different plastics were distinctive. Vapor molecules and product ions from plastics and seedcotton both increased with temperature. Seedcotton vapors spectra coincided with plastics vapors spectra but had different slope characteristics at specific drift times. Digital signal processing may be used to detect plastic contamination, triggering an alarm or control action. Spectra from new and old polypropylene tarp were nearly identical suggesting detection will be possible after weathering. IMS detection of plastics vapors in seedcotton works in the laboratory. The next step is developing IMS systems for commercial cotton gins.