Green Machine using Hydrothermal Separation Treatment

HKRITA
Overview

An industrial up-scale of chemical recycling of post-consumer textile products by hydrothermal technology. Cotton and polyester blended-fibre fabrics are separated and recovered for re-use, achieving “closed-loop textile recycling.”

  • Green Machine using Hydrothermal Separation Treatment 0
  • Green Machine using Hydrothermal Separation Treatment 1
  • Green Machine using Hydrothermal Separation Treatment 2
Technical name of innovation
Hydrothermal Treatment to Recycle PET and PET Blends
Research completion
2020
Commercialisation opportunities
Technology licensing
Problem addressed

Cotton and polyester blended-fibre fabrics are extensively used by clothing manufacturers today to meet garment preferences in fit, style, and comfort. Currently, there is absence of a textile recycling solution that can completely recycle these blended-fibre fabrics. The huge amount of textile waste imposes great pressure on landfill and fibre supply chain.

Innovation
  • Developing a complete hydrothermal treatment process to decompose cotton into cellulose powder and to recover separated polyester fibres, whose quality is comparable to virgin fibres
  • Involving only water and a tiny amount of non-harmful chemical throughout the treatment
  • Developing a pre-industrial scale system to enable up-scale production and implementation
Key impact
  • A non-harmful chemical and energy-saving textile recycling treatment of cotton-polyester blended fabrics
  • Fulfilling the goal of "end-to-end recycling" where post-consumer textiles are recovered as the raw materials of textile production cycle
  • Reducing environmental damage and demand for virgin fibres in the textile industry
Award
  • 2023 China Patent Awards of Garment Industry
  • 2023 China Garment Industry Technological Progress and Contribution Awards
  • World Changing Ideas Awards (2023) - Finalist
  • 2023 Edison Awards (Circular Economy, Sustainability) - Bronze Award
  • 2022 R&D 100 Awards - Winner (2022)
  • ITMF Awards 2022
  • Gold Medal in the 46th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2018)
  • Silver Award in the Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (2017)
Application
  • Textile recycling 
  • The separated fibres with no depolymerisation are ready for spinning and manufacturing of new fabric;
  • while the cellulose powders, decomposed from the cotton, can be applied to functional products such as super-absorbency materials and regenerated cellulose fibres.

Patent

  • 305183721
  • EP19181129.8
  • EP19181128.0
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA)

Established in 2006, The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) is funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR government, and hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 

HKRITA has achieved research deliverables over the years around our research clusters targeting in sustainability, industry advancement and social benefits through our centre-owned research teams and laboratories as well as collaborations with industry partners and institutions. 

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