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

Author

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  • 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
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    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. 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.
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    1. Catarina Carvalho & Carla Joana Silva & Maria José Abreu, 2025. "Circular Economy: Literature Review on the Implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) in the Textile Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-28, February.
    2. Mengxue Zhu & Chengyong Gao & Shuhua Wang & Sheng Shi & Meiling Zhang & Qianyu Su, 2025. "Recycling of Spandex: Broadening the Way for a Complete Cycle of Textile Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-19, April.

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