TREATMENT AND UTILISATION OF COTTON WASTE FROM SPINNING MILLS

Abstract

The possibilities of treating and utilising cotton waste or "cotton dust" in three ways are considered in this paper. A granular carbon possessing ion exchange properties was prepared from the waste by suitable treatment with sulphuric acid, sodium chloride and alum. The efficiency of the sulphonated carbon in removing calcium from 0• i% calcium chloride solution and fluorine from water treated with sodium  fluoride was examined. The waste material when powdered and incorporated into black alkaline soils (on which cotton is  generally grown) treated with ammonium sulphate was found to control the loss of ammonia to a considerable extent from the soil system. This action of cotton waste was found similar  to that of straw powder used under comparable conditions The powdered waste material when allowed to decompose along with other organic wastes was found to retain moisture in the system for a considerably long period, thus facilitating the decomposition of the materials to a greater extent.Steeping the cotton waste in raw sewage remarkably hastened disintegration of the cotton material. By treatment of the cotton waste with sewage, adjusting the moisture content, the period of decomposition and other conditions, a valuable manure could be prepared for use in agriculture.