A pre-treatment agent that can be used prior to chemical recycling processes to remove polyurethane (PU, elastane) fibres from polyester (PES)-blend fabrics is being developed by Teijin Frontier of Osaka, Japan. Further to removing PU fibres, the agent also eliminates foreign materials such as dyes, and helps to prevent the discolouration commonly seen in PES resins derived from recycled feedstocks. Teijin Frontier has been testing the agent for practical use since October 2022. The agent works by swelling, and then breaking the chemical bonds within, PU fibres, causing them to dissolve.The agent can then be collected and re-used.
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