A New Approach to Reduce Sugar Content of Cotton Fibers and Its Consequence for Fiber Stickiness

Abstract

Serious production and quality problems occur from time to time in cotton processing as a result of fiber stickiness, which is related to an increase in the level of monosaccharides on cotton fibers, mainly fructose and glucose. Microbiological activity may alter this sugar level, both qualitatively and quantitatively, since microorganisms consume sugars. The laboratory and semi-commercial experiments reported here produced optimal conditions for sugar decomposition to enable normal, undisturbed spinning of cotton fiber. Enhanced microbial activity, based on a supply of ammonium compounds at certain moisture contents and the amount of sugar on the fibers, led to a remarkable reduction in cotton stickiness without affecting quality.

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