Closing the textile loop: Enzymatic fibre separation and recycling of wool/polyester fabric blends
Description
Textile waste presents a serious environmental problem with only a small fraction of products from the fashion industry collected and re-used or recycled. The problem is exacerbated in the case of post-consumer waste by the mixture of different natural and synthetic fibres in blended textiles. The separation of mixed fibre waste, where garments are often multicomponent, presents a major recycling problem as fibres must be separated to single components to enable effective recycling. This work investigates the selective digestion of wool fibres from wool/polyester blended fabrics using an enzymatic approach. Complete degradation of wool fibres was achieved by application of a keratinase in a two-step process with addition of reducing agent and undigested polyester fibres were recovered. Electron microscopy showed complete breakdown of the natural fibres in the fabric blends, while spectroscopic and mechanical analysis of the recovered synthetic fibres confirmed that the enzymatic treatment had no significant impact on the properties of the polyester compared to virgin samples. The polyester fibres are therefore suitable to be recycled to polyester yarn and re-used in the manufacture of new garments or other products. The nutrient rich keratin hydrolysate could be used in microbial growth media or incorporated into bio-fertilisers or animal feed, contributing to the development of the circular economy.
Impact and interest:
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ID Code: | 134117 | ||||||||||
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Item Type: | Contribution to Journal (Journal Article) | ||||||||||
Refereed: | Yes | ||||||||||
ORCID iD: |
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Measurements or Duration: | 12 pages | ||||||||||
Keywords: | Enzyme, Keratinase, Polyester, Recycling, Wool, Textile | ||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1016/j.wasman.2019.10.026 | ||||||||||
ISSN: | 0956-053X | ||||||||||
Pure ID: | 33532246 | ||||||||||
Divisions: | Current > Research Centres > Centre for Materials Science Current > Research Centres > Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy Current > Research Centres > Centre for a Waste Free World Current > Research Centres > Centre for Justice Past > QUT Faculties & Divisions > Creative Industries Faculty Past > Institutes > Institute for Future Environments Past > QUT Faculties & Divisions > Science & Engineering Faculty Current > QUT Faculties and Divisions > Faculty of Science Current > Schools > School of Biology & Environmental Science Current > Schools > School of Chemistry & Physics Current > QUT Faculties and Divisions > Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice |
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Funding Information: | This work was supported by Queensland University of Technology , through the Institute for Future Environments Catapult funding scheme. This work was supported by Queensland University of Technology, through the Institute for Future Environments Catapult funding scheme.The authors would like to acknowledge the Central Analytical Research Facility, operated by the Institute for Future Environments (QUT). Access to CARF is supported by funding from the Science and Engineering Faculty (QUT). The authors would like to acknowledge the Central Analytical Research Facility, operated by the Institute for Future Environments (QUT). Access to CARF is supported by funding from the Science and Engineering Faculty (QUT). Appendix A | ||||||||||
Copyright Owner: | Consult author(s) regarding copyright matters | ||||||||||
Copyright Statement: | This work is covered by copyright. Unless the document is being made available under a Creative Commons Licence, you must assume that re-use is limited to personal use and that permission from the copyright owner must be obtained for all other uses. If the document is available under a Creative Commons License (or other specified license) then refer to the Licence for details of permitted re-use. It is a condition of access that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. If you believe that this work infringes copyright please provide details by email to qut.copyright@qut.edu.au | ||||||||||
Deposited On: | 04 Nov 2019 23:33 | ||||||||||
Last Modified: | 04 Aug 2024 20:15 |
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