Colour removal from polyester textile wastes

The environmental impact caused by high production rates and fast fashion practices of the textile industry necessitate innovative solutions for recycling polyester textile waste. This research focuses on developing a sustainable method to remove dyes from polyester textiles, enabling their reuse and recycling. Preliminary tests revealed that a reducing agent was essential for effective colour removal. To optimise the treatment, a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was employed to minimise chemical concentrations, liquor ratio, and reaction time at 130° C, while maintaining efficiency. The optimised treatment was subsequently upscaled, yielding positive results and demonstrating the feasibility of the process. Physical tests were conducted on samples before and after treatment to evaluate whether the chemical process affected their properties. This study highlights a viable method to address the issue of dyed polyester waste, contributing to textile sector sustainability and advancing a circular economy approach by reducing both textile waste and resource consumption.