Waste Textile Reutilization Via a Scalable Dyeing Technology: A Strategy to Enhance Dyestuffs Degradation Efficiency

Heng Zhai; Zekun Liu; Lulu Xu; Ting Liu; Yangyang Fan; Lu Jin; Ruihan Dong; Yangpeiqi Yi; Yi Li

doi:10.1007/s42765-022-00192-1

Advanced Fiber Materials ›› 2022, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (6) : 1595 -1608. DOI: 10.1007/s42765-022-00192-1

Research Article

Waste Textile Reutilization Via a Scalable Dyeing Technology: A Strategy to Enhance Dyestuffs Degradation Efficiency

Author information +

¹Department of Materials, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK

^j henry.yili@manchester.ac.uk

Heng Zhai

received his B.Sc degree in Textile Science and Technology from The University of Manchester in 2017. After that, he was continuous to a straight doctoral study in the same organization. His Ph.D. research mainly focuses on the fabrication of functional graphene and graphene fiber-based composites for wearable electronics and environmental remediation.

Zekun Liu

recieved his Ph.D. degree at Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom. He is now working as a Research Associate at Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford. His research interests include nanomaterials and functionalized materials for the development of advanced composites, functional clothes, biomedical devices, and flexible electronics such as sensors, batteries, solar cells, and generators.

Lulu Xu

currently works as a research fellow at Wellcome-EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences (WEISS), University College London (UCL). She received her Ph.D. degree from Manchester University in 2020. Her main research was mainly focused on the development of soft and flexible electronics for wearable applications.

Ting Liu

received his B.Sc degree in Material and science from the Hefei University of Technology in 2015. After that, he finished his MSc study about advanced engineering materials from the University of Manchester. Then, he was continuous to PhD research at the same university mainly focuses on the fabrication of porous PLLA/TiO₂ fibrous membranes and their applications in the environmental remediations and antibacterial.

Yangyang Fan

received his BSc degree in Polymer Materials Science and Engineering from Donghua University in 2014. He received master’s degree in the University of Manchester in 2015. He started his PhD study in 2016 in the University of Manchester. His PhD research mainly focused on the fabrication of graphene fibres, mechanical and electrical behaviour of graphene fibres, and wearable electronics.

Lu Jin

received a BEng degree in textile engineering from Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, China, MS degree in Polymer Science and Engineering from Dankook University, South Korea, and Ph.D. in Textile Science and Technology from The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, in 2006, 2009 and 2021, respectively. His research interests include dry electrodes, unimodal strain sensors, airflow transducers and protective clothing.

Ruihan Dong

accomplished her B.E. in Textile engineering from Soochow University in 2020. After that, she received her M.S. from the school of materials, the University of Manchester. Her research interests include wearable multifunctional sensors, flexible carbon materials, human-machine interface applications, and advanced textile materials.

Yangpeiqi Yi

is currently a Ph.D. student in Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom. His current research mainly focuses on ink-based processes for breathable and flexible electronics.

Yi Li

is a full professor and chair in Textile Science and Engineering in the University of Manchester. He is a Life-Fellow of Royal Society of Art and International Biographical Association and Fellow of the Textile Institute. He is the Chairman of Textile Bioengineering and Informatics Society, deputy council chairman of International Digital Health and Intelligent Materials Innovation Alliance, and board chair of Fashion Big Data Foundation. His research focuses advancement of emerging cross-disciplinary science and engineering of how to design and engineer biomaterials, drug delivery systems, medical devices, smart e-textiles, intelligent wearables for human psychological and physiological needs.

Show less

History +

PDF

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the fast fashion industry brings about environmental concerns such as dyestuffs-related water pollutions and waste textiles. Conventional wastewater-disposal strategies emphasize the optimization of photocatalytic activity to improve pollutant degradation efficiency, while the absorptivity, recyclability and sustainability of photocatalysts are always ignored. The overproduced textiles are still in urgent of being recycled and reutilized in eco-friendly approaches. In this work, a scalable dyeing technology is employed to achieve green and sustainable reutilization of waste textiles. The functionalized TiO₂/reduced graphene oxide wool fabrics show excellent sustainability, remarkable adsorbing capacity and enhanced photocatalytic performance. By taking advantage of these properties, we develop an integrated strategy of night-time adsorption and day-time photodegradation which could significantly optimize the dyestuffs degradation efficiency. The concept of waste textiles reutilization and wastewater treatment in this work provides practical potential for efficient and sustainable environmental remediation.

Graphical abstract

Concept of waste textiles reutilization and wastewater treatment.

Cite this article

Download citation ▾

Heng Zhai, Zekun Liu, Lulu Xu, Ting Liu, Yangyang Fan, Lu Jin, Ruihan Dong, Yangpeiqi Yi, Yi Li. Waste Textile Reutilization Via a Scalable Dyeing Technology: A Strategy to Enhance Dyestuffs Degradation Efficiency. Advanced Fiber Materials, 2022, 4(6): 1595-1608 DOI:10.1007/s42765-022-00192-1