Recycling of textile waste that is a blend of cotton and polyester can be challenging because each of the fibers needs a different recycling process. It is thus imperative that efficient solutions are used to separate the cotton and polyester fibers.
How does it work?Cellulose-polyester separation in apparel that is a blend of both fibers is essential as the recycling processes for each of these fibers are very different from one another. |
Sustainability benefitsEnvironmental sustainability - Efficient separation of the fibers enables optimal recycling which ultimately reduces landfill waste |
Highlights/USP |
Stage of commercializationEarly stage |
Types of professionals who can improve the solutionWaste management professionals, Digital professionals working on IoT, Fashion designers, Textile materials professionals
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Specifically relevant to any geography? |
Decarbonization PotentialModerate
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Value ChainProduct end of life , |
The aim of this thesis is to separate the materials by depolymerizing the polyester using alkaline hydrolysis. The focus of the work is on how such a process should be performed without a catalyst, in order to result in both a high yield and a high purity of the cotton residue.
The focus of this paper is on the separation of cotton and PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyester) from mixed textiles, so-called polycotton. Polycotton is one of the most common materials in service textiles used in sheets and towels at hospitals and hotels. Furthermore, cotton cellulose degradation is evaluated in this paper by analyzing the intrinsic viscosity of the cotton cellulose.