Abstract: Apparatus and method for delinting cottonseed wherein a moving body of cottonseed is subjected to a flame treatment for burning off excess linters, then subjected to an acid treatment wherein foamed sulfuric acid of adequate water content is deposited on the seed and the seed agitated, and then the seed is dried and the acid degraded linters removed. In an important embodiment the seed is acid treated, dried and buffed to remove degraded linters serially in at least two successive stages.

Abstract: A flame treatment apparatus for use in delinting cottonseed comprises a generally vertical stack having a horizontal toothed seed feed roller rotatably mounted across its upper end and gas burners providing a flame curtain across the stack passage through which the seeds to be cleaned drop. The stack walls are dual to provide an annular space surrounding the flame treatment passage and cooling air is passed through that space.

Abstract: Cotton seed is delinted in a continuous system wherein dilute acid is sprayed onto a moving agitated horizontal column of seed while controlling the weight ratio of dilute acid to seed and then the wet seed is partially dried by being conveyed by a hot air stream to a cyclone as a flash drying operation and then formed into a horizontal moving column which is agitated by the combined action of (a) a combination conveyor-agitator and (b) the transverse passage of hot drying air to complete drying and then subjected to a scrubbing operation wherein the degraded fibers are removed and the fibers, other very light particles and odors are removed from the seed mass by an exhaust system.