David F. Brown

Survey of effects of variety and growing location of cotton on card room dust composition

Electrostatically precipitated respirable dusts from six major U.S. varieties and growing areas were analyzed. From 81-95% by weight, was under 15 micronm diameter. Composition was affected more by growing location than by variety. Dusts contained 16-28% ash, 8-9% moisture, and 62-76% organic matter, including 16-31% protein and 2-12% cellulose. Inorganic composition reflected soil type and minerals. Major elements were silicon, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and aluminum. Infrared spectra of dusts resembled proteins, but water extract spectra did not. Possible implications concerning byssinosis are discussed.

Concentrations of some aliphatic aldehydes and ketones found in raw and roasted spanish and runner peanuts

Carbonyl compounds in oil cold-pressed from raw and roasted peanuts were isolated and quantitated as their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones. Quantitative data were obtained for more than 40 compounds and compared to the flavor threshold values of the compounds in oil. In general, concentrations of aldehydes and ketones in Spanish peanuts were higher than in runner peanuts. Hexanal and octanal and possibly nonanal, 2-octenal and 2-nonenal may contribute to the “green-beany” flavor of raw peanuts. Concentrations of 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylbutanal and 3-methylbutanal vastly exceeded their flavor thresholds and probably contribute significantly to the harsh note of freshly roasted peanuts. Other compounds that could contribute to the flavor and aroma of roasted peanuts are: hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, dodecanal, 2-heptenal, 2-octenal, 2-nonenal, 2-decenal and 2,4-decadienal.

Chemical Composition of Cotton-Processing Dusts

Inorganic and proximate compositions were determined for total and fine (under 20 μm diameter) dusts from cotton gins, textile mills; oil mills, and cotton compresses. The ash content of fine dusts was higher than that in total dust samples but decreased with the stage of processing in textile mills and gins. Inorganic composition often differed exten sively and appeared to depend on the soil composition and growing location. Large differences in water solubility and protein content also were observed. The difference between total and fine cardroom dusts was primarily in fiber content. Numerically and gravimetrically, the vast majority of mineral particles and plant fragments in carding dust appeared to be under 20 μm diameter. Little difference was found in the relative ratios of inorganic elements and nonfiber plant fragments in total and fine gin dust samples. Differences in dust composition Were often greater from one gin, mill, or compress to another than those among samples obtained at different stages of processing within the same plant,

Collection of Large Quantities of Respirable Cotton Dust for Byssinosis Research

Byssinosis is an occupational respiratory disease which is thought to be induced by chronic respiration of cotton, flax, or soft-hemp dusts in textile mills. The disease is caused by foreign matter included with the raw fiber, not by the fiber. Obtaining sufficient quantities of respirable dust under 15–20 μm diameter for biological and chemical analysis has been a major difficulty in byssinosis research. Two simple means have been devised for collecting kilogram quantities of respirable cotton dust from the air-cleaning systems in commercial mills.

Direct gas chromatographic analysis of volatiles from raw and roasted peanuts

Ground samples of raw and roasted peanuts were packed in glass liners and introduced into the heated injection port of a gas chromatograph where the volatiles were vaporized in situ. Chromatograms from ground peanuts are qualitatively similar to those from expressed oil samples. Fourteen compounds were tentatively identified.

VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS: INFECTION OR TOXICOSIS?1

The facultative halophile Vibrio parahaemolyticus, since its first isolation, has been shown to be toxic for mice and has produced experimental infection when fed to animals and humans. Pathogenicity has been shown to be associated with the presence of a heat-stable hemolysin-the Kanagawa-hemolysin. Previously, investigators reported that most strains of V. parahaemolyticus, regardless of virulence, could produce dilatation in the ligated rabbit gut. We have shown however, that ileal loop reactivity is strongly associated with Kanagawa-hemolysin and, thus, with virulence. Reactivity is obtained with live cell suspensions and the reaction time is dose dependent. Other investigators have reported that preparations of heated cells, cell lysates, culture filtrates, and purified Kanagawa-hemolysin will not produce dilatation in rabbit ileum nor edema in the mouse foot pad. In our studies, cell-free culture filtrates were without effect in the ligated ileal loop, suggesting absence of enterotoxin. Cell wall and...

Chemical composition of dusts from cottonseed oil mills

Abstract and SummaryThe proximate chemical composition of total dust samples from five Texas cottonseed oil mills was determined. Dust compositions were highly variable and were affected more by the processing step than by differences among mills. Composition of cleaning room dusts reflected differences in soil minerals. Typical inorganic values were: silicon (12%), aluminum (0.5%), and iron (0.7%). Delintering dust was highest in cellulosic materials (40%), whereas the 23% protein composition of the hulling dust showed the influence of kernel fragments. Baling, dust contained large amounts of cellulose (38%) and noncellulosic organic constituents (36%).

Mass Spectrometric Identification of Some bis -2, 4-Dinitrophenylhydrazones

Nitrophenylhydrazones, notably 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazones (2,4-DNPH), are among the most widely used derivatives for mass spectral characterization of carbonyl compounds. Mono-2,4-DNPHs of n-aldehydes of C5 or more and n-ketones of C6 or more exhibit prominent fragmentation peaks: the aldehydes giving strong peaks at masses 224 and 206, methyl ketones at masses 238 and 178, and ethyl ketones at masses 252 and 178. All show a distinct peak at M-35. Mass 182 is reported to be significant for mono-2, 4-DNPH using the time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Spectra of two steroid mono-2, 4-DNPHs run in this laboratory showed M-35 as the only characteristic peak shared with the straight chain series and not the characteristic bis-2, 4-DNPH peaks.

Effects of Washing Raw Stock Cotton on Trash and Carding Dust Levels and FEV 1 Values—A Pilot Study

were blended and divided into two approximately equal (160 kg) lots. One lot was retained at the USDA Cotton Qualitv research Station (CQRS), and the other was sent to the Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC), where the washing could be carried out using pilot-plant-scale equipment. The lot to be washed was opened to allow better water penetration. The SRRC opening line consisted of a feeder hopper, superior cleaner, and condenser. The cotton was washed in 13.5-kg batches in a Gaston County 300-liter-capacity raw stock vat dyer. The washing solution consisted of 300-1. portions df water containing 20 ml of Triton X-1(~0l surfactant and 6 to 8 drops of Hodag Chemical Co. FD-82 antifoam agent. Samples were washed 30 min at 27 °C under a pressure of 9.5 Pa (136 Ih/m2), absolute. The light, tea-colored aqueous solution was removed bv centrifugation at 1700 g’s for 6 min with aliquots saved from each batch and pooled for chemical analysis. The unrinsed cotton, containing 25 to 45% moisture after centrifugation, was dried at 80’ to 82°C in a Proctor-Schwartz oven drier for 16 h, weighed, rebaled, and returned to CQRS. The inorganic elemental composition of the extract (washings) was determined In’ x-rav fluorescence, isli .. content by heating at 750°C for 2 h, and nitrogen 1)~;o micro-hjelcial~l analysis. Incipient putrefactio of the* extract could be detected by a faint H2S o( within &dquo;: 24 h at ambient temperatures. , Approai itelv ).1-1 kg , of thymol was added per 2(X) I. of wash’ gs to inhibit microbial growth during storage, and the washings were extracted with diethyl ether prior t freeze-drying and analysis to remove the thymol and ’riton X-100. FD-82 is sparingly soluble in ether. The washed and unwashed cottons ere processed through the CQRS opening-picking line a d formed into’

Mass Spectrometric Identification of Some 2-Enal and 2, 4-Dienal 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazones:

Spectral data useful for the characterization and direct identification of microgram quantities of carbonyl compounds have been reported for some bis and mono 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (2,4-DNPH) derivatives.