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The Current State-of-the-Art of the Processes Involved in the Chemical Recycling of Textile Waste

Molecules 2025 17 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 58 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Urbain Nshokano Ndagano, Laura Cahill, Ciara Smullen, Jennifer Gaughran, Susan M. Kelleher

Summary

This review surveys the current state of chemical recycling technologies for textile waste, focusing on how processes like pyrolysis, solvolysis, and enzymatic degradation can break down synthetic fibers back into usable raw materials. The study notes that while chemical recycling holds promise for reducing textile pollution, challenges remain due to the complex mix of dyes, additives, and blended fabrics in real-world clothing waste.

The textile industry's rapid growth and reliance on synthetic fibres have generated significant environmental pollution, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices. Chemical recycling offers a promising pathway to reduce textile waste by converting used fibres into valuable raw materials, yet technical challenges remain due to the complex compositions of textile waste, such as dyes, additives, and blended fabrics.

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