Pyrolysis of textile waste: A sustainable approach to waste management and resource recovery

Abstract

The textile industry is one of the most polluting sectors globally, with increasing amounts of textile waste posing significant environmental and public health challenges. This study investigates the pyrolysis of pure cotton, polyester, and a 55 % polyester/45 % cotton blend as a sustainable approach to waste management and resource recovery. Pyrolysis was conducted in a tubular reactor at 425 °C, 500 °C, and 575 °C. The resulting char, oil and gas fractions were quantified and characterized. The highest oil yield (over 45 %) was obtained from pure cotton, primarily composed of heavy naphtha. In contrast, pure polyester and the cotton-polyester blend produced predominantly gaseous fraction (over 50 %) with H2 as the major compound. The char produced, especially from cotton at 575 °C, exhibited significant carbon content (75.6 %) and textural properties suitable for being used as adsorbents. These findings demonstrate the potential of pyrolysis for energy recovery and promoting a circular economy in textile waste management.