Chemical Recycling of Cotton Textile Waste and Integration into Dissolving Pulp for Viscose Production

Abstract

By promoting increased circularity through reuse, repurposing, and recycling, we can significantly reduce textile product carbon dioxide emissions by 33 %, concurrently mitigating air, land, and soil pollution associated with textile production, with chemical recycling playing a crucial role due to its ability to produce materials with comparable quality to virgin raw materials, minimizing the loss of a textiles original properties. This research investigated the chemical depolymerisation of cotton textiles, aiming to transform them into a material that closely resembles commercial dissolving pulp. The investigation focuses on comparing two pre-treatment methods, each aiming to optimise the depolymerisation process. The treated cotton material was then blended with conventional dissolving pulp, enabling the production of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) through the well-established viscose process. The successful implementation of this novel approach paves the way for incorporating recycled cotton into the viscose process and reduce dependence on virgin pulp, minimise environmental impact and promoting a more sustainable textile industry.