A pneumatic fractionator was assessed as a lint cleaning device for ginned lint. Results from a test that used two line pressures and three fractionation times showed that higher line pressure and longer fractionation time produced fiber that was shorter in staple length, contained more neps, and had less dust, trash, and visible foreign matter (including leaf). Short fiber content was not different among fractionator treatments, and all treatments had varying degrees of classer prep calls. The fractionator was effective in removing foreign matter. Overall, the least aggressive treatment had the best fiber properties, and the most aggressive fractionator treatment did the most cleaning. Results from a lint cleaning test that compared the least and most aggressive fractionator treatments with a conventional saw-type lint cleaner showed that the fractionator did not preserve fiber length any better than conventional lint cleaning. The most aggressive fractionator treatment was more effective in removing foreign matter, but had considerably more neps than conventional lint cleaning. The fractionator treatments received prep calls and the conventional lint cleaner treatments did not. The most aggressive fractionator treatment was more harmful to fiber than conventional lint cleaning, and the least aggressive treatment had fiber properties similar to one saw-type lint cleaner. The most aggressive fractionator treatment had the highest cleaning efficiency, largest amount of lint cleaner waste, and lowest bale value. The highest bale value was achieved with either no lint cleaning or with the least aggressive fractionator treatment. Further work is needed to determine the interactions of the fractionator with different cultivars and cottons of varying foreign matter content as well as determine any effects of the fractionator on spinning performance.
