Chemical Recycling of a Textile Blend from Polyester and Viscose, Part I: Process Description, Characterization, and Utilization of the Recycled Cellulose

Anna Peterson, Johan Wallinder, Jenny Bengtsson, Alexander Idström, Marta Bialik, Kerstin Jedvert and Hanna de la Motte
Additional contact information
Anna Peterson: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Argongatan 30, Box 104, SE-431 22 Mölndal, Sweden
Johan Wallinder: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Drottning Kristinas väg 61, Box 5604, SE-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Jenny Bengtsson: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Argongatan 30, Box 104, SE-431 22 Mölndal, Sweden
Alexander Idström: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Marta Bialik: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Drottning Kristinas väg 61, Box 5604, SE-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden
Kerstin Jedvert: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Argongatan 30, Box 104, SE-431 22 Mölndal, Sweden
Hanna de la Motte: RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Argongatan 30, Box 104, SE-431 22 Mölndal, Sweden

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Material recycling requires solutions that are technically, as well as economically and ecologically, viable. In this work, the technical feasibility to separate textile blends of viscose and polyester using alkaline hydrolysis is demonstrated. Polyester is depolymerized into the monomer terephthalic acid at high yields, while viscose is recovered in a polymeric form. After the alkaline treatment, the intrinsic viscosity of cellulose is decreased by up to 35%, which means it may not be suitable for conventional fiber-to-fiber recycling; however, it might be attractive in other technologies, such as emerging fiber processes, or as raw material for sugar platforms. Further, we present an upscaled industrial process layout, which is used to pinpoint the areas of the proposed process that require further optimization. The NaOH economy is identified as the key to an economically viable process, and several recommendations are given to decrease the consumption of NaOH. To further enhance the ecological end economic feasibility of the process, an increased hydrolysis rate and integration with a pulp mill are suggested.

Keywords: textile recycling; textile blend; viscose; polyester; industrial process layout (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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