IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i14p6206-d1439204.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Recycling of Blended Fabrics for a Circular Economy of Textiles: Separation of Cotton, Polyester, and Elastane Fibers

Author

Listed:
  • Khaliquzzaman Choudhury

    (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA)

  • Marina Tsianou

    (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA)

  • Paschalis Alexandridis

    (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4200, USA
    Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo, NY 14260-4300, USA)

Abstract

The growing textile industry is polluting the environment and producing waste at an alarming rate. The wasteful consumption of fast fashion has made the problem worse. The waste management of textiles has been ineffective. Spurred by the urgency of reducing the environmental footprint of textiles, this review examines advances and challenges to separate important textile constituents such as cotton (which is mostly cellulose), polyester (polyethylene terephthalate), and elastane, also known as spandex (polyurethane), from blended textiles. Once separated, the individual fiber types can meet the demand for sustainable strategies in textile recycling. The concepts of mechanical, chemical, and biological recycling of textiles are introduced first. Blended or mixed textiles pose challenges for mechanical recycling which cannot separate fibers from the blend. However, the separation of fiber blends can be achieved by molecular recycling, i.e., selectively dissolving or depolymerizing specific polymers in the blend. Specifically, the separation of cotton and polyester through dissolution, acidic hydrolysis, acid-catalyzed hydrothermal treatment, and enzymatic hydrolysis is discussed here, followed by the separation of elastane from other fibers by selective degradation or dissolution of elastane. The information synthesized and analyzed in this review can assist stakeholders in the textile and waste management sectors in mapping out strategies for achieving sustainable practices and promoting the shift towards a circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Khaliquzzaman Choudhury & Marina Tsianou & Paschalis Alexandridis, 2024. "Recycling of Blended Fabrics for a Circular Economy of Textiles: Separation of Cotton, Polyester, and Elastane Fibers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-49, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6206-:d:1439204
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6206/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/14/6206/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. V. Tournier & C. M. Topham & A. Gilles & B. David & C. Folgoas & E. Moya-Leclair & E. Kamionka & M.-L. Desrousseaux & H. Texier & S. Gavalda & M. Cot & E. Guémard & M. Dalibey & J. Nomme & G. Cioci & , 2020. "An engineered PET depolymerase to break down and recycle plastic bottles," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7802), pages 216-219, April.
    2. Jenny Bengtsson & Anna Peterson & Alexander Idström & Hanna de la Motte & Kerstin Jedvert, 2022. "Chemical Recycling of a Textile Blend from Polyester and Viscose, Part II: Mechanism and Reactivity during Alkaline Hydrolysis of Textile Polyester," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Anna Peterson & Johan Wallinder & Jenny Bengtsson & Alexander Idström & Marta Bialik & Kerstin Jedvert & Hanna de la Motte, 2022. "Chemical Recycling of a Textile Blend from Polyester and Viscose, Part I: Process Description, Characterization, and Utilization of the Recycled Cellulose," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Jianli Liu & Jianyao Liang & Jiannan Ding & Guangming Zhang & Xianyi Zeng & Qingbo Yang & Bo Zhu & Weidong Gao, 2021. "Microfiber pollution: an ongoing major environmental issue related to the sustainable development of textile and clothing industry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 11240-11256, August.
    5. 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)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Graeme Moad & David Henry Solomon, 2021. "The Critical Importance of Adopting Whole-of-Life Strategies for Polymers and Plastics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Huang, Jijiang & Veksha, Andrei & Chan, Wei Ping & Giannis, Apostolos & Lisak, Grzegorz, 2022. "Chemical recycling of plastic waste for sustainable material management: A prospective review on catalysts and processes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Carmen Adriana Gheorghe & Roxana Matefi, 2021. "Sustainability and Transparency—Necessary Conditions for the Transition from Fast to Slow Fashion: Zara Join Life Collection’s Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Gui Zhao & Jiayi Lin & Mengying Lu & Lina Li & Pengtao Xu & Xi Liu & Liwei Chen, 2024. "Potential cycling boosts the electrochemical conversion of polyethylene terephthalate-derived alcohol into valuable chemicals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Yuantao Peng & Jie Yang & Chenqiang Deng & Jin Deng & Li Shen & Yao Fu, 2023. "Acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate for upcycling and life-cycle assessment study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Iman Ibrahim & Ayat Gamal Ashour & Waleed Zeiada & Nisreen Salem & Mohamed Abdallah, 2024. "A Systematic Review on the Technical Performance and Sustainability of 3D Printing Filaments Using Recycled Plastic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-32, September.
    7. Diana Carolina Reyes Forsberg & Jenny Bengtsson & Nadine Hollinger & Tahani Kaldéus, 2024. "Towards Sustainable Viscose-to-Viscose Production: Strategies for Recycling of Viscose Fibres," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Jiang, Hewei & Lu, Ping & Xue, Zeyu & Wu, Hao & Zhao, Mingxing & Gong, Ruhao, 2024. "Blended torrefaction of combustible construction solid wastes and paper sludge on its combustion characteristics and migration of heavy metals and Cl," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    9. Yu Yang & Jian Min & Ting Xue & Pengcheng Jiang & Xin Liu & Rouming Peng & Jian-Wen Huang & Yingying Qu & Xian Li & Ning Ma & Fang-Chang Tsai & Longhai Dai & Qi Zhang & Yingle Liu & Chun-Chi Chen & Re, 2023. "Complete bio-degradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) via engineered cutinases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    10. Crisan Popescu & Michaela Dina Stanescu, 2024. "Eco-Friendly Processing of Wool and Sustainable Valorization of This Natural Bioresource," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-35, May.
    11. Jingjing Cao & Huaxing Liang & Jie Yang & Zhiyang Zhu & Jin Deng & Xiaodong Li & Menachem Elimelech & Xinglin Lu, 2024. "Depolymerization mechanisms and closed-loop assessment in polyester waste recycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Jun Qi & Yadong Du & Qi Yang & Na Jiang & Jiachun Li & Yi Ma & Yangjun Ma & Xin Zhao & Jieshan Qiu, 2023. "Energy-saving and product-oriented hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis enabled by electrochemistry pairing and product engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    13. Elizabeth L. Bell & Gloria Rosetto & Morgan A. Ingraham & Kelsey J. Ramirez & Clarissa Lincoln & Ryan W. Clarke & Japheth E. Gado & Jacob L. Lilly & Katarzyna H. Kucharzyk & Erika Erickson & Gregg T. , 2024. "Natural diversity screening, assay development, and characterization of nylon-6 enzymatic depolymerization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Trishnamoni Gautom & Dharmendra Dheeman & Colin Levy & Thomas Butterfield & Guadalupe Alvarez Gonzalez & Philip Roy & Lewis Caiger & Karl Fisher & Linus Johannissen & Neil Dixon, 2021. "Structural basis of terephthalate recognition by solute binding protein TphC," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Gluth, A. & Xu, Z. & Fifield, L.S. & Yang, B., 2022. "Advancing biological processing for valorization of plastic wastes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    16. Kamali, Ali Reza & Li, Siyuan, 2023. "Molten salt-assisted valorization of waste PET plastics into nanostructured SnO2@terephthalic acid with excellent Li-ion storage performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    17. P. Konstantin Richter & Paula Blázquez-Sánchez & Ziyue Zhao & Felipe Engelberger & Christian Wiebeler & Georg Künze & Ronny Frank & Dana Krinke & Emanuele Frezzotti & Yuliia Lihanova & Patricia Falken, 2023. "Structure and function of the metagenomic plastic-degrading polyester hydrolase PHL7 bound to its product," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Gonzalo Nahuel Bidart & David Teze & Charlotte Uldahl Jansen & Eleonora Pasutto & Natalia Putkaradze & Anna-Mamusu Sesay & Folmer Fredslund & Leila Lo Leggio & Olafur Ögmundarson & Sumesh Sukumara & K, 2024. "Chemoenzymatic indican for light-driven denim dyeing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Qing Ma & Yongjun Gao & Bo Sun & Jianlong Du & Hong Zhang & Ding Ma, 2024. "Grave-to-cradle dry reforming of plastics via Joule heating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    20. Yinglu Cui & Yanchun Chen & Jinyuan Sun & Tong Zhu & Hua Pang & Chunli Li & Wen-Chao Geng & Bian Wu, 2024. "Computational redesign of a hydrolase for nearly complete PET depolymerization at industrially relevant high-solids loading," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6206-:d:1439204. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.