Textile Recycling Gets Boost From Process To Separate Fibres
Chemistry researchers at the University of Copenhagen have been able to make a major breakthrough in textile recycling by finding a simple and effective method to separate polyester and cotton from blended fabrics.
Fibres of cotton-polyester blends although popular fabrics, are virtually impossible to separate, making recycling difficult.
This innovation could have a substantial impact on the fashion industry’s efforts to address sustainability and reduce textile waste.
This breakthrough method could revolutionise how blended textiles are handled, allowing for more effective recycling and reducing the environmental impact of textile waste.
The team of students developed a process that employs a mild solvent, heat, and a common salt used in baking to separate polyester and cotton fibres in blended textiles.
In their experiments, the researchers submerged scraps of polyester–cotton blend fabrics into ethylene glycol, a gentle solvent.
They then introduced ammonium carbonate, commonly known as hartshorn salt, which is frequently used in baking for leavening bread.
The remarkable outcome of this process was the separation of cotton and polyester fibres into distinct layers within the solution.
The success of this technique provides hope for its scalability and potential integration into larger-scale textile recycling operations.
