Analytical Chromatography
High-pressure separation of chemical species in a liquid medium identifies and measures individual sugar molecules on natural cotton fibers to assess the risk of processing stickiness. This procedure is the hplc sugar assay, which separates glucose, fructose, and trehalulose to pinpoint the exact origin of the sugar contamination.
Sugar Identification
Physiological sugars from the cotton plant itself, such as glucose and fructose, present a lower stickiness risk than the complex insect-derived honeydew sugars like melezitose and trehalulose. Through the hplc sugar assay, chemists can distinguish between these sugar types by measuring their specific retention times in the chromatography column. This analytical capability allows mills to predict how the cotton will behave under different humidity levels.
Insect sugars are highly hygroscopic, making them much more problematic in the humid environment of a spinning mill than plant sugars.
Laboratory Standard
Preparation of the sample involves extracting soluble sugars from the cotton fibers with hot water before injecting the filtered extract into the chromatograph. The hplc sugar assay produces a detailed report showing the percentage of each sugar present, which serves as a benchmark for quality departments.
Yarn Quality
Managing fiber blending based on the quantitative profile of the sugar ensures that the resulting yarn has fewer irregularities. Knowing the sugar composition helps technicians adjust the moisture levels in the spinning room to minimize fiber sticking.
