Projects per year
Abstract
The textile industry is facing growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, including the development of biodegradable and recyclable fibers derived from waste streams. In this study, we explored the use of keratin from waste textiles as a potential raw material for sustainable fiber production. We investigated the dissolution of keratin in 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo(4.4.0)dec-5-ene (mTBD)-based ionic liquids (ILs) and its regeneration in various coagulation solvents. The viscoelastic properties of the keratin solution were characterized using small angle oscillation shear rheology (SAOS), and the results showed that the keratin solution was not suitable for the dry-jet spinning process and the pure regenerated keratin fiber was too weak to hold the stretching in fiberline. To bypass these issues, we blended high molar mass cellulose with keratin during the dissolution step to adjust the rheological properties and mechanical strength of the extruded fibers. The resulting hybrid fibers exhibited high strength, low fibrillation tendency, and soft texture. We also demonstrated the further processability of these fibers by spinning a yarn and knitting a piece of fabric. Our findings suggest that hybrid fibers derived from keratin waste textiles and cellulose could be promising materials for sustainable fashion applications.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 14807-14815 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 40 |
Early online date | 27 Sept 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 9 Oct 2023 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- fiber spinning
- ion-cell technology
- ionic liquid
- textile recycling
- wool waste
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Pro2Fun: From post-translationally modified proteins to functional biomaterials
Aranko, S. (Principal investigator)
01/10/2023 → 30/09/2028
Project: Unknown
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LIBER Linder: Life-like hybrid materials
Linder, M. (Principal investigator)
01/01/2022 → 31/12/2026
Project: RCF Centre of Excellence
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CrossSilk: Durable and functional biomaterials from crosslinked non-canonical silk and cellulose composite
Aranko, S. (Principal investigator)
01/09/2020 → 31/08/2024
Project: RCF Academy Project
Press/Media
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New Sustainability Research Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at Aalto University (Upcycling of Keratin Wastes In Sustainable Textile Fiber Applications)
Fang, W., Hummel, M., Aranko, A. S. & Sixta, H.
08/11/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance