Kyle Kieschnick, student technician, performs a particle size distribution (PSD) using a Malvern Instruments Mastersizer 2000.  A sample of agricultural particulate matter is dispersed in liquid form to the optical unit which then captures a light scattering pattern and determines PSD based on Mie theory.

Texas A&M researchers are trying to develop an EPA-sanctioned process that will result in correction of "over estimation" of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations of agricultural PM emitted by agricultural operations.

The scientists have been able to demonstrate to EPA the errors in sampling agricultural dusts with EPA approved samplers. The samplers do not perform the same when exposed to “real world” PM that includes a wide range of particle sizes as they do in the EPA evaluations where they are exposed to mono-disperse particles (all the same size). The researchers have designed, constructed and tested a wind tunnel to allow accurate control and measurement of PM concentration and particle size distribution with poly-disperse particles. They also acquired a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 Particle Size Analyzer, which adds greater accuracy to their evaluation of sampler performance and shifting cut-point associated with particle size distribution.

Jing Chen, graduate student, prepares FRM PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micrometers) and TSP (total suspended particulate matter = 100 micrometers or less) sampler inlets for testing in a wind tunnel that allows for controlled PM concentration testing.

TexasA&MUniversity researchers evaluated the impact of a proposed coarse particulate National Ambient Air Quality Standard. They provided analysis and public comments to EPA to illustrate the documented errors associated with the EPA’s approved Federal Reference Method (FRM) PM10 and PM2.5 samplers – which could lead to error prone measurements of PMc. This was accomplished by the use of a wind tunnel the engineers designed that allowed more accurate quantification of the overestimation associated with FRM samplers.

In this ongoing project, the researchers are evaluating the errors associated with the PM10 and PM2.5 samplers to obtain PMc concentrations and developing a method to obtain accurate PMc concentration measurements using Total Suspended Particulate sampler and particle size analysis. They also are developing a white paper to clarify the implications of PMc as a property-line standard.

It has been estimated that an extended ginning season (six to nine months) could be a remedy for the steady decline in the number of U.S. gins. Such a system also could result in significant ginning cost reductions.

This project is formulating: 1) practical scenarios for cotton handling, storage and ginning in an extended season and 2) feasible transport systems where the gin service area is expanded to as much as a 100 mile radius.

Researchers at Texas A&M will be able to use data previously gained in this project, including ginning cost surveys and mapping of major and lesser roads and a layout of all possible transport routes, including limiting capacity of the interstate highways for transport of cotton modules.

The combination of escalating fuel and energy prices and an increase in gin trash due to bumper crops has given this project urgency.TexasA&MUniversity engineers’ primary goal for this project in 2006 is to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of using cotton gin trash to generate heat and power in cotton gins.

In 2005, pelleted cotton gin trash, supplied by the USDA Cotton Ginning Lab in Lubbock, was tested in a pre-commercial downdraft gasification unit. Engineers also evaluated the feasibility of installing a unit in a cotton gin and completed design of a modular downdraft gasification system.

The federal air quality standards will bring new challenges to U.S. cotton producers who may be faced with: 1) air quality permit application fees, 2) fines for violations of air quality permits and 3) costs associated with implementing practices or systems to reduce emissions from agricultural field operations.

In this new project, Texas A&M University engineers are developing a science-based emission factor PM10, PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 emissions from picker type cotton harvesting machines. Initial work will involve: 1) quantifying the PM emission factor from cotton harvesting operations and the difference in emissions between a two row versus a six row cotton picker; 2) developing a protocol for measuring source emission rates of PM from the six row harvester; 3) characterizing the particle size distribution of the PM emitted from cotton harvesting; and 4) determining which is more appropriate – reporting cotton harvesting emission factors on a mass of PM emitted per unit area or per bale of harvested cotton.