Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have made a significant breakthrough in textile recycling by discovering a simple and effective method to separate polyester–cotton blends. This innovation could have a substantial impact on the fashion industry’s efforts to address sustainability and reduce textile waste.
The team of scientists, led by Yang Yang from the Jiwoong Lee group at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Chemistry, 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 mixture was subjected to a temperature of 160 degrees Celsius.
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.
Currently, the difficulty in separating different fibres within these blends hinders the recycling process. This breakthrough method could revolutionise how blended textiles are handled, allowing for more effective recycling and reducing the environmental impact of textile waste.
The research, led by Yang Yang, has been published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemical Engineering. As the fashion industry and consumers alike continue to seek environmentally friendly practices, this innovative approach could play a pivotal role in advancing textile recycling and promoting a more sustainable future.
