Solid-state NMR method for the quantification of cellulose and polyester in textile blends.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Textile Recycling

Background:

• Textile waste, particularly blends of cellulose and polyester, presents recycling challenges.
• Efficient quantification methods are crucial for effective valorization of textile waste streams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) method for quantifying cellulose and polyester in textile blends.
• To assess the applicability of this method for both preconsumer and postconsumer textile waste.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Carbon-13 Cross-Polarization Magic Angle Spinning (¹³C CP-MAS) NMR spectroscopy.
• Employed Gaussian functions for spectral integration and established a sigmoidal calibration curve.
• Compared NMR results with acid hydrolysis as a reference method.

Main Results:

• The solid-state NMR method provided reliable quantification of cellulose and polyester in cotton-polyester blends.
• The technique demonstrated accuracy for both preconsumer and postconsumer textile waste samples.
• The study confirmed the potential for extending this NMR approach to blends involving man-made cellulose fibers (MMCFs).

Conclusions:

• Solid-state NMR is a robust tool for analyzing cellulose-polyester textile blends.
• This method supports the valorization of textile waste through accurate material quantification.
• The developed NMR technique offers a promising avenue for enhanced textile recycling strategies.