Material Separation from Polyester/Cotton Blended Fabrics Using Hydrothermal Treatment

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Sustainable Chemistry
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Textile waste is a growing environmental concern, with low recycling rates due to material blends.
• Current recycling methods struggle with mixed-fiber textiles, hindering sustainable practices.
• A novel separation technology is crucial for advancing textile recycling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an environmentally friendly method for separating common textile blends, specifically cotton/polyester.
• To optimize hydrothermal treatment conditions for efficient material separation.
• To assess the quality of separated materials and understand the separation kinetics.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal treatment using only water in a high-pressure reactor.
• Optimization of temperature (220-230 °C) and time (10 min) for blended fabrics.
• Evaluation of separated cotton strength and polyester molecular weight, including kinetic analysis.

Main Results:

• Cotton was successfully separated from polyester blends while maintaining fabric integrity.
• Polyester was separated via melting, avoiding decomposition into monomers, unlike chemical recycling.
• Kinetic analysis indicated PET molecular weight reduction is more probable than cotton strength degradation.

Conclusions:

• Hydrothermal treatment offers a viable, eco-friendly approach for separating cotton and polyester textiles.
• The method facilitates material recovery, supporting a circular economy in the textile industry.
• Further research can optimize conditions for broader application in textile waste management.