Abstract: A novel method for the treatment of cotton byproducts to yield value-added products while reducing the wear on processing equipment is described. In this process, cotton byproducts or waste are ground and compacted, and treated with a gellable polysaccharide. The polysaccharide is gelatinized, either before or concurrent with the grinding and compaction of the cotton byproducts. The resultant byproducts exhibit significantly reduced abrasiveness, greatly reducing the wear on equipment.

Abstract: A closed looped pneumatic transport unloading system in a cotton gin transports seed cotton from a trailer or module into the cotton gin. The closed looped pneumatic transport unloading system includes a fan, a cotton receiving unit, a separator, and a cyclone connected by conveying conduits to form the closed loop. The fan is positioned after the cyclone in the closed loop thereby reducing the wear on the fan. Cotton is input into the suction stream of the closed loop at the cotton receiving unit, and output from the suction stream at the separator. An air stream output from the fan is conveyed into the blow box. By providing a closed loop pneumatic transport unloading system, exhaust from this portion of the ginning process is eliminated.