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Green Conversion of Wool Waste Into Carbon Quantum Dots for Advanced Multifunctional Recycled Banana/Cotton Textiles
Summary
Scientists turned old wool waste into tiny particles called carbon quantum dots, then used them to treat recycled banana and cotton fabric — creating textiles that kill over 99% of a common bacteria, repel water, and block UV rays. This matters because it offers a way to reduce textile waste (a major source of landfill buildup and microplastic pollution) while creating clothing that could help protect skin from sun damage and harmful germs.
ABSTRACT The growing amount of textile waste materials of natural and synthetic fibers poses serious environmental issues such as landfill overloading, microplastic contamination and toxic chemicals seepage. An original circular approach was adopted that involves transforming proteinaceous post‐consumer wool waste into nitrogen‐doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) through hydrothermal carbonization with citric acid under optimal conditions. NCQDs were functionalized with Quaternary ammonium silane and applied to recycled banana or cotton fabrics using the pad‐dry‐cure method, ensuring durable functionalization. The treated textiles revealed effective antibacterial activity (> 99% reduction against Staphylococcus aureus ), robust hydrophobicity (water contact angle 129.7) and remarkable UV protection (UPF 134). FTIR, NMR, SEM and TEM confirmed successful silane grafting, uniform NCQD distribution and retained fiber integrity. Mechanical and Phabrometer analyses demonstrated enhanced resilience, drape and wrinkle recovery. This waste‐to‐value solution offers a sustainable route to textile upcycling and the development of multifunctional textiles based on the principles of the circular economy.