18244744. RECYCLING PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF COTTON FROM POLYESTER-COTTON FABRICS AND/OR FIBERS simplified abstract (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION)

From WikiPatents
Jump to navigation Jump to search

RECYCLING PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF COTTON FROM POLYESTER-COTTON FABRICS AND/OR FIBERS

Organization Name

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

Inventor(s)

Gregory Breyta of San Jose CA (US)

Robert David Allen of Golden CO (US)

RECYCLING PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF COTTON FROM POLYESTER-COTTON FABRICS AND/OR FIBERS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18244744 titled 'RECYCLING PROCESS FOR THE RECOVERY OF COTTON FROM POLYESTER-COTTON FABRICS AND/OR FIBERS

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a process to obtain polyester-free cotton from fabric and/or fibers containing polyester and cotton. The process involves reacting the fabric and/or fibers with an amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt and an alcohol solvent. The reaction results in the recovery of polyester-free cotton, reusable catalyst/salt, polyester monomer, and unreacted alcohol. The process can be conducted in batches or as a continuous flow process and can be applied to various polyester-cotton fabrics and fibers, including those with additional materials like polyethers, polyolefins, polyurethanes, nylon, rayon, acetate, viscose, modal, acrylic, wool, and combinations thereof.

  • The process converts polyester-containing fabric and fibers into polyester-free cotton.
  • It involves reacting the fabric and/or fibers with an amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt and an alcohol solvent.
  • The reaction can be conducted in batches or as a continuous flow process.
  • The process recovers polyester-free cotton, reusable catalyst/salt, polyester monomer, and unreacted alcohol.
  • It can be applied to various polyester-cotton fabrics and fibers, including those with additional materials.

Potential Applications

  • Textile industry
  • Recycling industry
  • Sustainable fashion

Problems Solved

  • Eliminates polyester from cotton fabric and fibers
  • Provides a method for recovering valuable materials from polyester-cotton blends
  • Offers a solution for recycling polyester-containing textiles

Benefits

  • Production of polyester-free cotton
  • Reusable catalyst/salt
  • Recovery of polyester monomer and unreacted alcohol
  • Versatile application to various polyester-cotton fabrics and fibers


Original Abstract Submitted

Polyester-free cotton is obtained from a fabric and/or fibers containing polyester and cotton by reacting the fabric and/or fibers with an amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt of same and an alcohol solvent. The reaction, which may be run in batches or as a continuous flow process, recovers (i) polyester-free cotton as a solid inert by-product of the reaction, (ii) the amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt of same for reuse, (iii) a polyester monomer product, and (iv) unreacted alcohol. The reaction works on any polyester-cotton fabric and/or fibers, including those that have at least one additional material, such as polyethers polyolefins, polyurethanes, nylon, rayon, acetate, viscose, modal, acrylic, wool, and combinations thereof.

Retrieved from "http://wikipatents.org/index.php?title=18244744._RECYCLING_PROCESS_FOR_THE_RECOVERY_OF_COTTON_FROM_POLYESTER-COTTON_FABRICS_AND/OR_FIBERS_simplified_abstract_(INTERNATIONAL_BUSINESS_MACHINES_CORPORATION)&oldid=17647"