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Eco-Friendly Processing of Wool and Sustainable Valorization of This Natural Bioresource

Author

Listed:
  • Crisan Popescu

    (KAO Germany GmbH, Pfungstaedter Str. 98-100, 64297 Darmstadt, Germany)

  • Michaela Dina Stanescu

    (Department of Natural and Technical Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University, 77 Revolutiei Blvd, 310130 Arad, Romania)

Abstract

The environmental invasion of plastic waste leads to, among other things, a reassessment of natural fibers. Environmental pollution has shown the importance of the degradability, among other properties, of the raw materials used by the textile industry or other industrial fields. Wool seems to be a better raw material than the polymers that generate large quantities of micro- and nano-plastics, polluting the soil, water, and air. However, the usual processing of raw wool involves a number of chemically very polluting treatments. Thus, sustainable procedures for making wool processing environmentally friendly have been considered, leading to the reappraisal of wool as a suitable raw material. Besides their applications for textile products (including smart textiles ), new directions for the valorization of this natural material have been developed. According to the recent literature, wool may be successfully used as a thermal and phonic insulator, fertilizer, or component for industrial devices, or in medical applications, etc. In addition, the wool protein α-keratin may be extracted and used for new biomaterials with many practical applications in various fields. This review makes a survey of the recent data in the literature concerning wool production, processing, and applications, emphasizing the environmental aspects and pointing to solutions generating sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Crisan Popescu & Michaela Dina Stanescu, 2024. "Eco-Friendly Processing of Wool and Sustainable Valorization of This Natural Bioresource," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-36, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4661-:d:1405655
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Monika Komorowska & Marcin Niemiec & Jakub Sikora & Zofia Gródek-Szostak & Hatice Gurgulu & Maciej Chowaniak & Atilgan Atilgan & Pavel Neuberger, 2023. "Evaluation of Sheep Wool as a Substrate for Hydroponic Cucumber Cultivation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Monica C. M. Parlato & Francesca Valenti & Giusi Midolo & Simona M. C. Porto, 2022. "Livestock Wastes Sustainable Use and Management: Assessment of Raw Sheep Wool Reuse and Valorization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Sofia Plakantonaki & Kyriaki Kiskira & Nikolaos Zacharopoulos & Ioannis Chronis & Fernando Coelho & Amir Togiani & Konstantinos Kalkanis & Georgios Priniotakis, 2023. "A Review of Sustainability Standards and Ecolabeling in the Textile Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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