New research leads to executable solutions for recycling polycotton fiber waste.

Polycotton’s sample (left) and (right) processing (right) and after (right) (right). The sample on the right is transparent because all cotton is removed. Only polyester remains. Credit: HIMS / AVANTIUM
In a paper published in Nature Communications, researchers in the Sustainable Chemical Group at the University of Amsterdam (UVA) offer a solution to the difficult recycling of polycotton fabric waste.
This process is developed in cooperation with the company’s avantium, and begins to completely remove all cotton from the cloth using ultra -concentrated hydrochloric acid at room temperature. Cotton is converted to glucose, which can be used as a raw material for bi -based products such as renewable plastic. The remaining polyester fiber can be reproduced using the available polyester cycle method.
This study is a part-time professor, led by Professor Gert-JAN, a UVA Van ‘T Hoff Molecular Science for Molecular Science Institute (HIMS). I did. GRUTER is the highest technical manager of Avantium, leading the development of revitalization and cycle polymer materials and technology, which is the key to turning a fossil -based economy into a revitalized bio -based economy.
“Because glucose is an important bio -based raw material, it is important to be able to collect glucose from cotton from cotton with textile waste. Currently, it is produced from corn and wheat from starch. Biomas is. You will need many non -food glucose.


The residue after processing a pure cotton shirt. Only polyester label and seams remain. Credit: HIMS / AVANTIUM.
Similarly, the important thing is to solve a huge problem in recycling the process of recycling textile waste. According to GRUTER, this is the first effective way to recycle both polycotton cotton and polyester ingredients in high efficiency.
Gratter’s Ph.D. The Paper’s first author, Nienke Leenders, has conducted a lot of tests under the four -year MiwateX project and is currently on the way. This project is the cooperation of textiles and recycling companies, MODRIJFSKLEDING, MODIJK in the Netherlands, and the highly chemical recycling of polyester. With developers of technology You need a treatment.
Scalability and cost -effective
In this paper, Leenders conducted an experiment using Avantium pilot plants for its original dawn technology that was originally developed to convert non -food plant -based raw materials into glucose and lignin. The important feature is to use high -concentration of hydrochloric acid (43 % in weight) at room temperature.


Polyester remains that wasted polycotter polycotton after processing. Credit: HIMS / AVANTIUM
Lender tested an actual consumer polycotton waste fabric batch at the pilot factory in the avantium dawn. It has been found that cotton cellulose may be completely hydrolyzed by glucose under industrial conditions. The polyester part of the fabric was left as it was, and it was easily separated. This test shows a high glucose yield, indicating scalability and cost -effectiveness.
The glucose derived from the process can be used for a wide range of industrial purposes, such as polymer, resin, and solvent. For example, producing 2,5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-FDCA (FDCA), which is an important component in the production of bio-based PEF polyester (polyethylene phranoic acid), which provides plastic bottle regenerated alternatives. You can.
This process allows you to fully recycle polyester from polycotton. You can chemically recycle to form a new virgin polyester, as established by a test run by Cure.
Preferred techno economic analysis
According to GRUTER, this study has established Polycotton Textiles’s actual industrial recycling basics and the first commercial use of non -food glucose.
“Many political parties are trying to accomplish one of these, but no one has yet succeeded. Our techno economic analysis looks quite favorable, and Avantium has already invested in this development. I am.
“Our ambition is to proceed with this technology to the next stage of commercialization with partners, so it is the first to sell non -food glucose obtained through the violin films approach.”
Details: NIENKE LEENDERS ET AL. Polycotton waste fiber recycling by sequential hydrolysis and sugar. Natural communication (2025). DOI: 10.1038/S41467-025-55935-6, www.nature.com/ArticleS/S41467-025-55935-6
Provided by Amsterdam University
Quotation: New research leads to a solution that can be executed by Polycotton fiber waste recycling (2025, January 29) https://phys.org/news/2025-01- on January 29, 2025 Obtained from VIABLE-SOLUTION-SOLUTION–solution-textile-recyling.html
This document is subject to copyright. There is no part that is reproduced without writing permission, apart from fair transactions for private research and research purpose. Content is provided only by information.