Advances in catalytic chemical recycling of synthetic textiles

Abstract

Synthetic fibres cover most of the textile market, but their value chain is almost entirely linear. Common raw materials are non-renewable and oil-derived while requiring large amounts of (toxic) chemicals and energy for their processing into final products. In addition, synthetic textiles are usually non-biodegradable polymers; therefore, sustainable approaches for their depolymerisation into reusable monomers have not been implemented yet. As a result, most post-consumer synthetic textile waste ends up being landfilled, dispersed in the environment or incinerated, thus contributing significantly to global pollution. A possible solution to this issue is the design and use of advanced catalysts for their chemical recycling. This manuscript reviews the most significant approaches that appeared in the literature in the time span of 2015–2024, covering the selective depolymerisation process of synthetic waste textile to added-value reusable monomers using chemical catalysts. Unselective processes, for example, to produce fuel mixtures, biocatalytic methods and depolymerisation of polyolefins are not covered. The general aspects of the catalytic depolymerisation of synthetic polymers are briefly discussed, and the catalytic chemical recycling of synthetic textiles is detailed by the polymer type. While contributing to the overall achievement of the sustainable development goals, chemical recycling of synthetic textile waste may represent a useful strategy toward the circularity of the textile sector, which is almost unexplored.