Transforming Textile Waste: Innovative Pathways to High-Value Material Upcycling

Abstract

The large-scale consumption of cotton and polyester-cotton blend fabrics has led to a rapid increase in textile waste generation, posing a significant environmental challenge. Conventional recycling methods for textile waste are often limited by low efficiency, high cost, and low added-value outputs. Developing effective upcycling strategies for these textiles is crucial to minimizing their ecological footprint. Thus, this study reports a comprehensive strategy to upcycle cotton and cotton-polyester blend waste textiles into high value-added photonic materials. The process involves a two-step approach of acid hydrolysis and hydrothermal treatment. Acid hydrolysis efficiently extracts cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) while preserving the intact structure of the polyester fibers for further reprocess. Hydrothermal treatment of the hydrolysis byproducts yields carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with tunable luminescent properties, maximizing the cellulosic utilization. CNCs and CQDs are then coassembled into large-scale biodegradable and recyclable photonic films with tunable structural color and circular polarized luminescence, promising applications in anticounterfeiting. A life cycle assessment highlights the minimal environmental impact of this process compared with traditional methods. This innovative approach offers a sustainable solution for textile waste management, contributing to the production of high-value-added materials.