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NEW TECHNOLOGIES

This innovative technology
could contribute to the solution
“of some still-unresolved
problems in textile waste
recycling, such as mixed fibers

solution of some still-unresolved problems in textile
waste recycling, such as mixed fibers. In Italy alo-
ne, tracked textile waste amounted to 157.7 Kt in
2019, of which 47% consisted of single and mixed
synthetic fibers. In Italy 5.7% of unsorted waste is
composed of textiles, with a total estimated at 663
Kta. In Europe, each inhabitant uses 26 kg of textile
material each year and disposes of 11 kg, with a
total production of textile waste estimated at about
5 MMt/y.

NextChem’s demonstration plant of the DEME-
TO project, through depolymerization techno-
logy, could be able to recycle one million kg/year
of polyester flakes and fibers from packaging
and textile waste, returning them to the basic
monomer. The basic monomer obtained is the
The project has been supported by an Industrial raw material to produce new polymers and fibers
Advisory Board, which includes companies such and to feed new industrial cycles, reducing oil
as Unilever, Coca-Cola, Oviesse, Danone, Henkel consumption. The technology can be also able
and several others. to treat “polycotton” coupled fibers, making cot-
This innovative technology could contribute to the ton return to new life.

Barbara Morico

Barbara Morico has been Chemical Engineer in NextChem since 2007. She has been working on R&D
projects for more than 25 years. She is Project Manager of several R&D projects focused on hydrogen
production, circular economy and renewable energy. She is co-author of articles in international journals
and scientific book chapters.

20 20 Impiantistica Italiana - Maggio-Giugno 2022