Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Fiber and Textile Waste Utilization

  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

See More

Due to the growth in world population and overall improvement of living standard, global fiber consumption has been steadily increasing in the past few decades, which leads to a higher amount of post industrial and post consumer fiber waste. This paper provides an overview on fiber and textile recycling, focusing on the case of carpets, which account for a large part of textile waste. It includes a general description of fibrous waste, statistics, material characteristics (compositions) and sources. It also offers a summary on some selected recycling technologies and products from the recycling processes. Observations on future trend and needs for further development are also discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2007 Facts and Figures, EPA530-R-08-010, 177 pp. www.epa.gov/osw (2008)

  2. Scheirs, J.: Polymer Recycling, Science, Technology and Applications. Wiley, New York (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wang, Y. (ed.): Recycling in Textiles. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  4. McCrum, N.G., Buckley, C.P., Bucknall, C.B.: Principles of Polymer Engineering, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Andrady, A.: An Environmental Primer. In: Andrady, A.L. (ed.) Plastics and the Environment, pp. 3–76. Wiley-Interscience, New York (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  6. National Renewable Energy Laboratory: U.S. Life-Cycle Inventory (LCI) Database. http://www.nrel.gov/lci/. Accessed 19 Dec 2009

  7. National Risk Management Research Laboratory: Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). http://www.epa.gov/NRMRL/lcaccess/index.html. Accessed 19 Dec 2009

  8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Landfill Methane Outreach Program. http://www.epa.gov/landfill/overview.htm. Accessed 19 Dec 2009

  9. Hawley, J.M.: Textile recycling: a system perspective. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 7–24. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE): 2005 Annual Report, http://www.carpetrecovery.org. Dalton, GA (2006)

  11. Peoples, R.: Carpet stewardship in the United States—a commitment to sustainability. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 38–45. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang, Y.: Carpet recycling technologies. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 58–70. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  13. Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., Polk, M., Kumar, S., Muzzy, J.: Recycling of carpet and textile fibers. In: Andrady, A.L. (ed.) Plastics and the Environment, pp. 697–725. Wiley-Interscience, New York (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Herlihy, J.: Recycling in the Carpet Industry, Carpet and Rug Industry, pp. 17–25 (November/December 1997)

  15. Bajaj, P., Sharma, N.D.: Reuse of polymer and fibre waste. In: Gupta, V.B., Kothari, V.K. (eds.) Manufactured Fibre Technology, p. 615. Chapman & Hall, New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Teijin Limited: All-Around Eco Circle. http://www.ecocircle.jp/en/. Accessed 19 Dec 2009

  17. Martin, D., Wang, Q., Klevisha, D.: Challenges of FTNIR for Recycling of Fibrous Textile and Carpet Waste Industries. In: Presentation at 9th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, Georgia, May 10–11, 2004

  18. Realff, M.: Systems planning for carpet recycling. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 46–57. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kip, B.J., Peters, E.A.T., Happel, J., Huth-Fehre, T., Kowol, F.: Method of identifying post consumer or post industrial waste carpet utilizing a hand-held infrared spectrometer. US Patent 5,952,660, 1999

  20. Bohnhoff, A., Petershans, J.: Decentralised technology for the sorting of textile floor coverings. In: Presentation at 7th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, Georgia, May 13–14, 2002

  21. Rowe, R.G.: Textile recycling machine. US Patent 6,061,876, 2000

  22. White, D.W.: System and method for decomposing reclaiming and refusing waste carpet materials. US Patent 6,029,916, 2000

  23. Bacon, F.C., Holland, W.R., Holland, L.H.: Claw drum for shredding used carpet. US Patent 5,897,066, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  24. Deschamps, M.: Shredding apparatus with shearing action. US Patent 5,829,690, 1998

  25. Sferrazza, R.A., Handermann, A.C., Atwell, C.H., Yamamoto, D.K.: Carpet recycling process and system. US Patent 5,535,945, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  26. Yamamoto, D.K., Viveen, P.: Industrial Rotary Shredder. US Patent 5,516,050, 1996

  27. Sharer, P.C.: Method of recycling carpet forming components from waste carpet. US Patent 5,518,188, 1996

  28. Hawn, K.: An overview of commercial recycling technologies and textile applications for the products. In: Presentation at 6th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, April 30–May 1, 2001

  29. Strzelecki, C.: Modern solutions for shredding, grinding and repelletizing post-industrial fiber, nonwovens and carpet scrap. In: Presentation at 9th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, May 10–11, 2004

  30. Kasserra, H.P.: Recycling of Polyamide 66 and 6, in Science and Technology of Polymers and Advanced Materials. In: Prasad, P.N., Mark, J.E., Kandil, S.H., Kafafi, Z.H., pp. 629–635. Plenum Press, New York (1998)

  31. Roth, J.: CENSOR™ centrifuge technology for plastic separation. In: Presentation at 7th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, May 13–14, 2002

  32. Hagguist, J.A.E., Hume, R.M.: Carpet reclaimer. US Patent 5,230,473, 1993

  33. Schut, J.H.: Big Plans for Carpet, Plastics World, p. 25 (1995)

  34. Howe, M.A., White, S.H., Locklear, S.G.: Method and apparatus for reclaiming carpet components. US Patent 6,182,913, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bacon, F.C., Holland, W.R., Holland, L.H.: Method and machine for recycling discarded carpets. US Patent 5,704,104, 1998

  36. Booij, M., Hendrix, J.A.J., Frentzen, Y.H.: Process for recycling polyamide-containing carpet waste. European Patent 759,456, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  37. Frentzen, Y.H., Thijert, M.P.G., Zwart, R.L.: Process for the recovery of caprolactam from waste containing nylon. US Patent 6,111,099, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  38. Sarian, A.K., Handerman, A.A., Jones, S., Davis, E.A., Adbye, A.: Recovery of polyamide from composite articles. US Patent 5,849,804, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  39. Sikorski, M.E.: Recycling of polymeric materials from carpets and other multi-component structures by means of supercritical fluid extraction. US Patent 5,233,021, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  40. Griffith, A.T., Park, Y., Roberts, C.B.: Separation and recovery of nylon form carpet waste using a supercritical fluid antisolvent technique. Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng. 38(3), 411–432 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. David, D.J., Dickerson, J.L., Sincock, T.F.: Thermoplastic composition and method for producing thermoplastic composition by melt blending carpet. US Patent 5,294,384, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  42. Hagberg, C.G., Dickerson, J.L.: Recycling nylon carpet via reactive extrusion. Plast. Eng. 53, 41–43 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Datta, R.J., Polk, M.B., Kumar, S.: Reactive compatibilization of polypropylene and nylon. Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng. 34(4), 551–560 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Chen, T.: Recycling carpet waste by reactive extrusion. M.S. Thesis, School of Textile and Fiber Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (1996)

  45. Young, D., Chlystek, S., Malloy, R., Rios, I.: Recycling of carpet scrap. US Patent 5,719,198, 1998

  46. Dagli, S.S., Xanthos, M., Biesenberger, J.A.: Blends of nylon 6 and polypropylene with potential applications in recycling, effects of reactive extrusion variables on blend characteristics. Am. Chem. Soc. Symp. 513, 241–257 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Elam, C.C., Evan, R.J., Czernik, S.: An integrated approach to the recovery of fuels and chemicals from mixed waste carpets through thermocatalytic processing. Am. Chem. Soc. Div. Fuel Chem. 42(4), 993–997 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Guindon, F.: Nylon 6 depolymerization. In: Presentation at 8th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, May 12–13, 2003

  49. Shaw Industries, Inc.: Post-consumer carpet recycling and collection. http://www.shawfloors.com/About-Shaw/Carpet-Recycling. Accessed 19 Dec 2009

  50. Miller, B.: Nylon hydrolysis. US Patent 2,840,606, 1958

  51. Polk, M.B., LeBoeuf, L.L., Shah, M., Won, C.-Y., Hu, X., Ding, Y.: Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng. 38(3), 459 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Bodrero, S., Canivenc, E., Cansell, F.: Chemical recycling of polyamide 6.6 and polyamide 6 through a two step ami-/ammonolysis process. In: 4th Annual Conference on Recycling of Fibrous Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, May 17–18, 1999

  53. Nadkarni, V.: Recycling of Polyesters. In: Fakirov, S. (ed.) Handbook of thermoplastic polyesters—homopolymers, copolymers, blends, and composites, Part V. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Shukla, S.R., Harad, A.M., Jawale, L.S.: Recycling of waste PET into useful textile auxiliaries. Waste Manag. 28(1), 51–56 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Kindler, H., Nikles, A.: Energy expenditure in the manufacturing of raw materials, calculation principles and energy equivalent data of plastics. Kunststoffe 70(12), 802–807 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Nir, M.M.: Recycling implications of post-consumer plastic waste. Plast. Eng. 46, 21–28 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Henshaw, J.M., Han, W.: An overview of recycling issues for composites materials. J. Thermoplast. Compos. Mater. 9, 4–20 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  58. Huang, S.J.: Polymer waste management—biodegradation, incineration, and recycling. Plast. Eng. 29, 1–6 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  59. Mulholland, J., Lemieux, P., Realff, M.: Emission studies of carpet as an alternative fuel. In: Presentation at 9th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, May 10–11, 2004

  60. Realff, M.: Regional fiber recycling system. In: Presentation at 9th Annual Conference on Recycling of Polymer, Textile and Carpet Waste, Dalton, GA, May 10–11, 2004

  61. Gulich, B.: Development of products made of reclaimed fibres. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 17–136. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Langley, K.D., Kim, Y.K.: Manufacturing nonwovens and other products using recycled fibers containing spandex. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 137–164. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  63. Abreu, M.J., Silva, M.E., Schacher, L., Adolphe, D.: Recycling of textiles used in the operating theatre. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 183–202. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  64. Muzzy, J., Wang, Y., Hagberg, C., Patel, P., Jin, K., Samanta, S., Bryson, L., Shaw, B.: Long fiber reinforced post-consumer carpet. In: ANTEC 2004, Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Chicago, IL, May 16–20, 2004

  65. Muzzy, J.: Composite products from post-consumer carpet. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 203–212. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  66. Kotliar, A., Fountain, D.P.: Synthetic wood from waste fibrous waste products. US Patent 5,626,939, 1997

  67. Kotliar, A.M., Michielsen, S.: Utilization of waste fibers in laminates. US Patent 5,912,062, 1999

  68. Kotliar, A.: Wood-like properties from carpet and textile fibrous waste: mitigating the coming landfill crisis. Polym. Plast. Technol. Eng. 38(3), 513–531 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Gowayed, Y.A., Vaidyanathan, R., El-Halwagi, M.: Synthesis of composite materials from waste fabrics and plastics. J. Elastom. Plast. 27, 79–90 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  70. Wang, Y., Zureick, A.H., Cho, B.S., Scott, D.E.: Properties of fiber reinforced concrete using recycled fibers from carpet industrial waste. J. Mater. Sci 29(16), 4191 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Wang, Y., Wu, H.C., Li, V.C.: Concrete reinforcement with recycled fibers. J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 12(4), 314–319 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Wang, Y.: Utilization of recycled carpet waste fibers for reinforcement of concrete and soil. In: Wang, Y. (ed.) Recycling in Textiles, pp. 213–224. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge (2006)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  73. dos Reis, J.M.L.: Effect of textile waste on the mechanical properties of polymer concrete. Mat. Res. Ibero Am. J. Mater. 12(1), 63–67 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  74. Murray, J., Frost, J.D., Wang, Y.: The behavior of sandy soil reinforced with discontinuous fiber inclusions. Transp. Res. Rec. 1714, 9–17 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Miraftab, M., Lickfold, A.: Utilisation of carpet waste in reinforcement of substandard soils. J. Ind. Text. 38(2), 167–174 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0295, USA

    Youjiang Wang

Authors
  1. Youjiang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Youjiang Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, Y. Fiber and Textile Waste Utilization. Waste Biomass Valor 1, 135–143 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-009-9005-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-009-9005-y

Keywords