Source: NCSU, 4/22/22

Editor’s Note: This post is part of a series highlighting research at NC State on textile sustainability.
In the United States, 11 million metric tons of textile waste go into landfills every year. But what if we could make that waste disappear?

Sonja Salmon, associate professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science at North Carolina State University, is studying a process for separating blended fabrics into their component fibers so they can be recycled or composted.

Specifically, Salmon and Jeannie Egan, a graduate student at NC State, are studying whether they can use enzymes – nature’s tool for speeding chemical reactions – to separate cellulose, which is biodegradable, from polyester so these components can be used in other products, or used to make nutrient-rich compost for crops.

For more of this story, click here.