Christian Schumacher (RSS) (95)
Florian Winkler (RSS) (7)
Site Admin (RSS) (2)
guestpost (RSS) (2)
Andrew Armstrong (RSS) (1)
Megan Nichols (RSS) (1)
Sustainable colouration concepts: Issues in textile processing of cotton
Sustainable colouration concepts Part III. Issues in textile processing of cotton
In the previous article we have discussed an innovative water-free dyeing process for polyester, dyeing from supercritical CO2 (scf-CO2). Today we will look at cotton, which is a major contributor for polluted effluents. Cotton has ethical and ecological concerns, as well as requiring high water & energy consumption in the textile industry.
Cotton is by far the most important natural, renewable fibre, used for textiles. Cotton and cotton blends are almost 40% of the total textile fibre consumption. The second biggest natural fibre is wool, from animal hairs, with only 2% share.
Cotton is not based on depletable raw materials such as crude oil or coal tar, compared to synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon. In the view of a peak oil scenario, this may be an important factor in the future.
To read the full article, please login. The full content of this article and all premium articles is available exclusively for site members.
Site membership is free. If you are an existing user, please login. New users may register below.
-
Dyeing with supercritical CO2 – finally a success story?
Dyeing in supercritical CO2 could finally be on track for success after 25 years of development. Originally an idea of German universities, it was developed and brought to market by the Dutch start-up...
-
Advances on Wool Dyeing and Finishing
The main environmental challenges in wool dyeing & finishing are the use of hexavalent chromium in the dyeing process, AOX in anti-felting/ shrink resist finishing and mothproof agents. The alternativ...
-
CRAMS outsourcing in pharmaceutical and chemical research and manufacturing, part II.
We will outline in the second part of this article series how big is the business of Contract research and manufacturing services (CRAMS) in the pharmaceutical, bio-technological and chemical industry...
-
Enzymes – an alternative for wet processing of denim
Denim wet processing using chemicals is one of the pollution causing processes in thetextile mills. Textile garment manufactures use numerousbers of acutely toxic chemicals of which many are classifie...
-
Finally the digital revolution in textile ink jet printing has started
Digital (ink jet) printing combines many advantages: easy coloration, direct printing off the computer screen, no screens, no colour kitchen, and attractive designs. Due to latest advances in printing...
-
Ionic liquids for the textile industry – part 1
The article reviews and discusses ionic liquids, a comparably new substance class, for the potential applications in the textile industry. This relates to fibre manufacturing and coloration.
-
Will the textile industry move out of China?
The textile industry in China, challenged by increasing labour cost, may be bound to move to other countries. The article discusses the cost structure in the textile industry and the importance of Chi...
-
Hemp as a sustainable textile fibre?
Hemp is discussed as a more sustainable alternative to cotton. There are many environmental advantages of hemp compared to cotton. However, the advantages are partly offset by various technical challe...
-
The risks and alternatives of APEO and NPEO in textiles part 1
The environmental activist group Greenpeace runs the Detox campaign requesting from international fashion brands to eliminate alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) from their supply chain. In response to th...
-
The risks and alternatives of APEO and NPEO in textiles part 2
The second part of this article series gives information about alternative products, global regulations and environmental advantages, after the ban of APEO in Europe. Moreover, the results of the Gree...
-
Ionic liquids for the textile industry – part 2
Part 2 of this article reviews ionic liquids, a comparably new substance class, for applications in the textile industry. In particular, fibre manufacturing and coloration.
-
Sustainable colouration concepts: waterless dyeing
This article series is about latest trends and future perspectives in coloration technologies. This part is about coloration using waterless dyeing concepts which is based on supercritical carbon diox...