Abstract
The textile industry is currently under pressure to decrease environmental load related to both the manufacture and the use of textiles. Material recycling may be one of many ways to accomplish such a decrease. Age-induced property changes in cotton textiles are important to understand in order to facilitate the recycling of cotton textiles. Consequently, this study investigates ultrastructural and chemical changes that take place in the cellulose of cotton sheets over a long time period of use and laundering. Ultrastructural changes were studied using water retention value (WRV), specific surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy and solid state NMR spectroscopy. Chemical changes through measurement of intrinsic viscosity with and without reductive treatment, molecular mass distribution and carboxylate group content. A substantial decrease in mass average molecular mass from 1,320 to 151 kDa was observed when subjecting the sheets to more than 50 launderings. In contrast, only small differences in WRV, in fibril dimensions and crystallinity estimated using solid state NMR spectra, were observed between sheets laundered 2–4 times and more than 50 times. On one hand, the combination of minor laundering effects of WRV and solid state NMR spectra, together with the large decrease in molecular mass are positive indications for the possibility of recycling cotton into regenerated cellulosic fibres. On the other hand, results show that the specific surface area decreased, which implies that the reactivity of cotton cellulose may decrease during long-term use and laundering.
Highlights
Systems for collection and recycling of common consumer goods, such as paper, plastics and glass are well developed in many parts of the world today
Results show that the specific surface area decreased, which implies that the reactivity of cotton cellulose may decrease during long-term use and laundering
Results presented here show that discarded cotton sheets have the potential of becoming a useful cellulose source in production of regenerated cellulosic fibres and cellulose derivatives
Summary
Systems for collection and recycling of common consumer goods, such as paper, plastics and glass are well developed in many parts of the world today. One product category which is still underdeveloped in terms of recycling is clothing and textiles. Garments and textiles that are not suitable for reuse may be mechanically shredded and used for products such as carpet underlays and upholstery (Morley et al 2006; Palm 2011). Using old cotton textiles as a raw material to produce regenerated cellulosic fibres, such as viscose or lyocell, is an attractive alternative end-of life scenario in comparison to incineration or landfilling (Negulescu et al 1998). To enable this development, more knowledge of changes induced by use and laundering in post-consumer cotton textiles is needed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
