Glycolysis Products Recycled From Waste PET Bottles for Low Temperature Carrier‐Assisted Dyeing of Polyester Fabrics

ABSTRACT Impelled by the urgent demand for sustainable development, there is increasing expectation for the utilization of resources derived from recycling waste products, particularly, waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET), due to its high production and use. Here, we develop an eco‐friendly and efficient microwave‐assisted glycolysis technique using lithium hydrate as a catalyst to recycle waste PET, demonstrating the feasibility of the recycled byproducts as carriers for low‐temperature dyeing of polyester fabrics. Optimal conditions include a catalyst amount of 1.2%, a bath ratio of 4:1, and microwave power of 500 W for 600 s. The recycled byproducts exhibit a distinct needle‐like morphology, with a yield over 64.5% and purity of 95.2%, indicating the process's high efficiency. Notably, the degradation reaction occurs layer by layer from outside in, driven by microwave energy and elevated temperatures. To validate the feasibility of using recycled byproducts as dye carriers, experiments were conducted using three primary colors under high‐temperature and high‐pressure conditions. The proposed low‐temperature method achieves comparable color depths, with K / S values of 1.48 for red, 1.41 for yellow, and 1.02 for blue, and color fastness rated at 4–5 for light‐colored fabrics. This efficient technique highlights the potential of converting waste into valuable products for the textile industry.