Economic Feasibility of Manufacturing Fuel Pellets from Cotton By-Products

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: In the past, cotton processing waste or byproducts have not been considered to have monetary value and were actually considered a liability. It was estimated that in the US, there were over 2.25 million tons of cotton byproducts being generated each year across the cotton belt. Last year Texas produced 4,153,866 bales of upland cotton. From the bales produced, there was an estimated 750,000 tons of waste produced in the ginning process. Moving cotton processing waste from a liability to a source of income would be a positive strategy for cotton ginners and producers. Processing waste would also furnish a renewable resource that could be used to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel resources while having a minimal impact on the environment.