Equipment for milkweed floss-fiber recovery.
Bargen, K. von; Jones, D.; Zeller, R.; Knudsen, P.;
Industrial Crops and Products Year: 1994 Vol: 2 Issue: 3 Pages: 201-210 Ref: 8 ref.
1994
บทคัดย่อ
ABSTRACT :
The floss-fibre of milkweed (Asclepias syriaca and Asclepias speciosa) is being commercialized for use as a loose fill insulation. Successful production of milkweed floss-fibre requires reliable and economic harvesting, handling, drying and processing. A system consisting of a pod harvester, a pod conditioner, 2 drying stages and a spike-tooth cylinder processor is discussed. Most of the equipment units are commonly available, but require modification to meet the special operational requirements of milkweed production. This prototype system has seen limited use and quantification of performance and system refinement await cultural developments in order to produce milkweed on a commercial scale. The harvest rate was 0.4-0.5 ha/h and 90% of the pods were harvested. The pod conditioner opened 95% of the pod sutures. The drying process removed 50% of the moisture in the pod within 4 h during the first drying stage, and further dried the pods to 10% moisture content in 48-60 h in the second stage of
drying. The floss processor recovered 60% of the floss with the centrifugal separator prior to spike-tooth cylinder processing.