Innovative Recycling Method: Using Hartshorn Salt to Tackle Polyester Waste and Environmental Pollution

KOMPAS.com – A group of researchers reported an interesting study on the benefits of hartshorn salt to help overcome environmental pollution, especially the threat of polyester waste.

The benefits of hartshorn salt are used by researchers to exemplify plastic and cotton fibers, which are generally mixed for the manufacture of fabrics in the textile industry.

Polyester is the second most used textile in the world. Widely used in the clothing to furniture industries, polyester dominates our everyday lives, with 60 million tons of this fabric produced each year.

However, the production of polyester has a negative impact on the climate and environment, as only 15 percent is recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills or is burned causing more carbon emissions.

Polyester recycling faces various challenges. Conventional recycling methods often prioritize the preservation of plastic components, which results in loss of cotton fiber.

In addition, this method is expensive and produces metal waste due to the use of metal catalysts, which can be cytotoxic and pollute the environment.

Also read: Study Reveals Mushrooms Can Help Overcome Plastic Waste

A new study suggests an easier method for recycling polyester by utilizing hartshorn salt.

As reported by Science Daily, Tuesday (29/08/2023) a group of young chemists unveiled a surprisingly simple solution to this urgent problem, which has the potential to revolutionize the sustainability of the textile industry.

Yang Yang of Jiwoong Lee’s group at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Chemistry, who is also the lead author on the scientific research report, said the textile industry needed more efficient solutions to tackle blended fabrics such as polyester/cotton.

“Currently, the limitations of practical methods for recycling cotton and plastic are generally only one of which is applicable. However, with the innovative approach we discovered, we were able to separate polyester into monomers and simultaneously recover large quantities of cotton, through a simple method. and environmentally friendly. This catalytic approach has the potential to change perspectives,” Yang said.

Recycle polyester with hartshorn salt

Hartshorn salt is also known as a leavening agent in baked goods. However, to make it as an agent to recycle polyester, the researchers showed that no complicated method is needed.

Also read: Study reveals diamonds were spit out by Earth when the supercontinent broke up

A new method for recycling polyester and preventing pollution from the textile industry, requiring no special equipment, utilizing only heat, non-toxic solvents and common household materials.

In this study, researchers explain, for example, by cutting a polyester gown into small pieces and combining it in a container with a small amount of mild solvent, as well as hartshorn salt.

Next, the mixture is heated to a temperature of 160 degrees Celsius and incubated for 24 hours.

“The result is a liquid in which the plastic and cotton fibers separate as distinct layers. The process is simple and efficient,” said Shriaya Sharma, a doctoral student from Jiwoong Lee’s group in the Department of Chemistry and a co-author of the study.

How hartshorn salt works

In the process, hartshorn salt, also called ammonium bicarbonate, is broken down into ammonia, CO2 (carbon dioxide) and water.

Also read: Study Reveals AI Can Lead to Dangerous Misconceptions

A mixture of ammonia and CO2 acts as a catalyst, triggering a selective depolymerization reaction that breaks down the polyester, but retains the cotton fiber.

Although ammonia is toxic separately, when combined with CO2, it becomes environmentally friendly and safe to use. Thanks to the mild nature of the chemicals used, the cotton fibers remain intact and in good shape.

Previously, the same research group had shown that CO2 could be used as a catalyst to break down materials such as nylon, leaving no traces behind.

This inspiration prompted them to explore the uses of hartshorn salt.

However, the researchers were surprised when their simple recipe yielded such successful results.

“At first, we were thrilled to see it work on PET bottles only. Then, when we discovered that it also worked on polyester fabrics, we were ecstatic. It was indescribable. The satisfaction was incredible to see something that seemed too good to be true,” said Carlo Di Bernardo, doctoral student and co-author of the study.

Also read: Study Reveals Saturn’s Atmosphere Keeps Traces of Ancient Storms

While this method has only been tested at the laboratory level so far, researchers have demonstrated its scalability and are currently working with companies to test the method on an industrial scale.

“We hope this technology can be commercialized because it has great potential. Keeping this knowledge within the scope of the university will be a big waste,” said Yang Yang in conclusion.

Furthermore, researchers say an innovative recycling method that uses hartshorn salt (ammonium bicarbonate) has the ability to process PET plastic, as well as a mixture of PET and cotton materials.

“When we put contaminated plastic waste in a container, we can still get cotton and high-quality plastic monomer from the mixture. In fact, this can even include plastic bottles that still have juice residue in them. We just need to put all the ingredients in and start the reaction process This method is still effective,” Sharma explained.

Also read: Study Reveals Fragrant Smell While Sleeping Can Prevent Dementia

Get selected news updates and breaking news every day from Kompas.com. Let’s join the Telegram group “Kompas.com News Update”, how to click the link https://t.me/kompascomupdate, then join. You must first install the Telegram application on your cellphone.

2023-08-30 07:30:00
#Study #Reveals #Hartshorn #Salt #Overcome #Polyester #Pollution #Kompas.com