Reviewed by Frances BriggsNov 28 2025
A solvent made from everyday compounds cleanly pulls apart mixed fabrics, delivering near-total material recovery and a realistic route to large-scale textile recycling.
Nika Depope, Recycling textiles in the Lab. Study: Deep eutectic solvent as a solution for polyester/cotton textile recycling. Image Credit: TU Wien
Researchers at TU Wien devised the straightforward method for efficiently separating and recycling blended fabrics, using non-toxic menthol and benzoic acid. The study was published in Waste Management.
Global textile production has more than doubled since 2000, now exceeding one hundred million tons annually. Consequently, environmentally sound textile recovery methods are becoming increasingly necessary to encourage recycling over landfill disposal.
Five Minutes is All it Takes
What may be surprising at first: both menthol and benzoic acid are solid at room temperature. But together they form a liquid, a so-called deep eutectic solvent. This novel liquid is a powerful, non-toxic, and easy-to-produce solvent with a wide range of possible applications.
Andreas Bartl, Study Lead, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien
At 216 °C, the solvent separates mixed textile components within five minutes. Polyester dissolves entirely, while cotton remains unchanged. The cotton can be washed, dried, and reused. The polyester precipitates upon cooling, is separated, and can be recycled.
The dissolution and precipitation process achieves nearly complete recycling, with 100 % cotton and 97 % polyester recovery rates, surpassing conventional methods.
Separating, Not Breaking Down
The truly remarkable thing about this new process is that neither the cotton nor the polyester is damaged or chemically altered. Our analyses show that the cotton fibers remain stable and retain their typical properties, they can even be spun into new yarns again.
And the polyester also remains unchanged: its structure and melting temperature are the same as before. This demonstrates how gentle and efficient this recycling process is.
Andreas Bartl, Study Lead, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien
Unlike traditional recycling, which chemically breaks down polyester into smaller components, this new method preserves the polymer chains, maintaining overall material quality.
A Promising Approach
The process, tested in the laboratory, shows significant industrial potential. Both recovered cotton and recycled polyester can be used for various applications, including new yarns, fibers, nonwovens, and technical textiles.
The team is working to improve energy efficiency, as the current drawback is the 216 °C temperature. The research team is optimistic about further optimization and the potential for industrial-scale implementation.
Journal Reference
Depope, N., et al. (2025). Deep eutectic solvent as a solution for polyester/cotton textile recycling. Waste Management. DOI:10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115177. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X25005884?via%3Dihub