Methods for recycling cotton and polyester fibers from waste textiles

• Main Authors: Su, Hsun-Cheng, Bobe, Iulian, Barla, Florin G, Showalter, Todd, Jones, Jeremy
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.06.2024
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; LAUNDERING; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; POLYSACCHARIDES; TEXTILES; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS,FABRICS, FEATHERS, OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS; WORKING-UP

Systems and methods are provided that involve a subcritical water reaction to recycle the cellulose and polyester components of waste cotton and cotton/polyester blend textiles that would otherwise be discarded or disposed of. Specifically, the disclosed methods provide for treatment of the waste textiles to produce advanced materials including cellulose and terephthalic acid (TPA) with a low environmental impact. The cellulose and TPA that are produced are of a high quality allowing for production of regenerated cellulose and regenerated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) suitable for fiber spinning and textile applications.