BL6-3 EnzyDegTex

The development goal of the “EnzyDegTex” project is to provide raw materials from textile waste for the chemical, plastics and textile industries. Target raw materials are, for example, monomers and oligomers for the synthesis of meltable or solvent-spinnable polymers.

Enzymatic degradation processes are being investigated as recycling technologies. The use of enzymes enables selective degradation and thus the design of tailor-made recycling processes. These recycling processes can also be used to separate textile constructions and return their source materials, which cannot be separated according to the current state of the art, such as ring and rotor yarns and flame-laminated textiles.

In “EnzyDegTex”, a complete biotechnological recycling cycle is being developed for various textile products on a laboratory and pilot scale. Process chains with the following sub-steps are being investigated:

• Selection and preparation of waste, in particular shredding
• Development and implementation of enzymatic degradation
• Enrichment of suitable degradation products
• Production/synthesis of chemical base materials and products from textile waste
• Development and validation of suitable spinning processes in which the chemical raw materials and products produced in “EnzyDegTex” are used
• Development of textile products from the spun yarns, e.g. woven fabrics, knitted fabrics