Researchers at the Faculty of Chemistry at Calicut University in Kerala state have found new ways to "lace" and "desaturate" cotton and polyester fibers through dry processes using liquid carbon dioxide and supercritical (scCO2) and cheap sugar acetate, can save water in this water-consuming textile industry.
 

 

The work was published in the journal "ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Industry".

Fibers are the process of introducing a protective adhesive layer onto the yarn to increase the strength of the yarn, to reduce the break in the weaving machine and to maintain maximum weaving performance. The traditional method of filamenting involves spinning through the thick lake solution, mostly starch and polyvinyl alcohol, and then drying.

After weaving the yarn, it is desiccated by washing in water, requiring between 2,500 and 21,000 liters of water per 1,000 kilograms of cotton and drying as a process of energy consumption.

The team has been investigating the possibility of using scCO2 as an alternative medium for lakes and desiccation using CO2-soluble compounds such as sucrose octaacetate (SOA) and two other compounds that act as reservoirs.

Fiber breaking strength is almost doubled for cotton when compared to SOA, while 60% for polyester fibers. SOA can be washed out of the yarn in desizing when using scCO2.

The research team included P Ravendran, Anu Antony, Anila Raj, Jyothi P Ramachandran of Calicut University, Resmi M Ramakrishnan from SNGS College and Scott L Wallen from the University of Florida.

According to vinatex.com