The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency has listed the development of sorbent wipes as a priority research activity in FY06-07.

Scientists at Texas Tech University’s Non-woven Lab have developed a “flexible cotton decontamination wipe” that has a number of military applications. Among objectives of this ongoing project will be to examine the protection capabilities of cotton based chemical protective substrates and decontamination wipes using a battery of toxic chemicals, including organophosphorous pesticide chemicals and 2) efficiently using needle-punching non-woven technology to develop lightweight cotton non-wovens and consequently using it to develop adsorbent cotton non-woven composite wipes.

A value-added cotton non-woven wipe could mean increased market share and use-value for U.S. upland cotton.

Investigators are looking at new uses for cottonseed oil, including improved fuel formulations such as bio-diesel.

USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists in New Orleans and College Station, TX, have:  1) made progress on oil extraction using acetone; 2) studied the effects of gossypol insecticidal effects and produced cotton plants with higher gossypol levels to defend against certain insects; and 3) found that refined-bleached-deodorized cottonseed oil contained detectable gossypol levels.

Current project objectives include: 1) developing improved fuel formulations that incorporate cottonseed oil and value-added uses of cottonseed co-products; 2) continue research on the use of acetone as an extraction solvent for cottonseed; 3) determine the gossypol ratios of cotton plants (roots and foliage) of backcrossed plants exhibiting the high gossypol seed trait; 4) determine the effect of racemic (+) and (-) gossypol on the specialist herbivorous insect Helicoverpa virescens; and 5) develop a half-seed analytical method for the determination and manipulation of oil levels in cottonseed.

The goal of this new project is to identify and relate specific genetic make-up in cotton that can provide better final comfort the wearers. This would strengthen cotton’s position against synthetics and result in greater cotton consumption.

Specific objectives by Texas Tech University researchers are to: 1) understand the influence and relationship between cotton variety/traits which are based on different germplasms and the comfort and end-use performance properties of lightweight non-wovens; 2) have a thorough understanding on the performance of cotton varieties on the needle-punching non-woven process; 3) understand the relationship between important fiber characteristics such as length, micronaire and strength on cotton processing in needle-punching non-woven process and the performance of the cotton-based products; 4) develop cotton-based non-woven fabrics that find applications such as face masks; and 5) enhance the use and sales value of the U.S. upland cotton.