A new approach developed at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden could reshape how cellulose textiles are produced. Instead of relying on resource-intensive cotton or chemically processed wood pulp, researchers have demonstrated that common agricultural residues—like wheat straw and oat husks—can serve as effective raw materials for dissolving pulp, the base for cellulose fibers.
The process centers on soda pulping, a simplified technique that involves boiling plant matter in sodium hydroxide (lye). This method sidesteps many of the environmental drawbacks of traditional pulping, significantly reducing chemical use and eliminating the need for intensive pre-treatment steps like debarking or wood chipping. By applying this cleaner process to crop byproducts, the team is addressing both raw material scarcity and agricultural waste management.
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