An investigation into rinse bowl efficiency in continuous woolscouring

Abstract

This investigation into rinse bowl efficiency in continuous wool scouring involved experiments to determine the effect on scoured (as-is) colour and entanglement of: turbidity, point and volume of rinse water addition, wool mat density, rinse bowl temperature and increased mechanical cleaning action.

In addition to experimentation a survey of the New Zealand wool scouring industry was carried out to quantify current techniques and attitudes regarding the rinsing operation.

Turbidity within the cold rinse bowls had a negligible effect on scoured colour, the main effect coming from rising turbidity levels in the final hot bowl.

The use of spray bars in cold rinse bowls was found to have a beneficial effect on wool brightness once a critical nozzle velocity was achieved.

Wool mat density had a major effect on scoured colour, with brightness noticeably reduced at high density.

Increased mechanical action in the cold rinse bowls also effected significant improvements in scoured wool colour.

Temperature in the normally cold rinse bowls was found to have no effect on scoured wool colour.

None of the treatments showed any indication of reducing fibre length due to increased entanglement.