Laura Oleniacz writes in TechXplore about a potential solution to textile waste.
- Each year 11 million tons of textile waste goes into landfills in the U.S.
- Researchers at North Carolina State University are looking to solve this problem by experimenting with enzymes.
- The research team is hoping to use enzymes to separate polyester and cellulose in clothing and recycle the materials or convert them into agricultural compost.
- If successful, this experiment could unlock a pathway forward to reducing our environmental footprint.
“Sonja Salmon, associate professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science at North Carolina State University, is studying a process for separating blended fabrics into their component fibers so they can be recycled or composted.”
Read the full article here.
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