Auditing Mass Balance Discrepancies in High Guard Hair Camel and Cashmere Batch Processing
Auditing mass balance in camel and cashmere dehairing requires converting all stream weights to oven-dry mass plus stream-specific standard regain.
Scoured Yield
Clean Measurement
Weight-based determination of the clean, oven-dry wool content remaining after a raw fleece sample undergoes thorough industrial washing establishes the true yield of the material. This scoured yield calculation is critical for wool buyers because it determines the amount of actual wool fibre available for spinning after the grease, sweat, and sand are removed. Raw wool can lose up to sixty percent of its weight during the washing process.
Knowing this value prevents buyers from paying for non-textile weight.
Washing Efficiency
Industrial washing bowls must be maintained at optimal temperatures with the correct concentration of soap and soda ash to achieve a high yield. If the wash is too cold, the lanolin grease will not dissolve, leading to a low scoured yield and sticky fibres. If it is too hot or alkaline, the wool fibres can become felted and damaged.
Technicians take regular samples from the final rinse bowl to test for residual grease.
Industrial Impact
Different sheep breeds and grazing regions produce fleeces with highly variable dirt and grease levels. Merinos from dry, dusty regions often yield less clean wool than crossbred sheep from wetter, grassy pastures. By calculating the yield of each lot, a mill can plan its washing schedules and detergent consumption.
Transaction Basis
Commercial contracts are settled using the certified yield percentages provided by independent testing laboratories. These laboratories run standardized test washing routines to ensure a fair and reproducible outcome. The certified yield protects both the grower and the processing mill from weight differences caused by dirt and weather.