“Pressure cooker” for textiles: scientists from Denmark have invented a revolutionary technology for recycling clothes
A group of scientists from Aarhus University has developed an innovative technology that can change the situation with the recycling of clothing containing elastane.
Elastane, which provides elasticity to materials, is often found in blended fabrics, which complicates the recycling process.
Associate Professor Steffan Quist Christensen and his colleagues have developed a method to completely remove elastane from nylon fabrics and are also working on a solution for cotton fabrics. This breakthrough makes it possible to significantly increase the amount of textiles that can be recycled in the future.
The process involves heating the garment to 225 degrees Celsius and adding special alcohol and potassium hydroxide. These components accelerate the chemical breakdown of elastane and allow for the separation of different fibers, such as nylon and cotton.
The scientists emphasize that they use relatively mild chemicals, such as alcohol and potassium hydroxide, to avoid harsh chemicals, and this makes the process more environmentally friendly. The developed technology is a kind of “pressure cooker” in which textiles are processed efficiently and quickly.
With this significant step in advanced textile processing technology, scientists have been able to separate complex blended fabrics, opening up prospects for increasing the recycling rate of clothing and reducing the environmental impact of textile waste.
