Methods and systems for decolorizing textile materials
AssigneeThe Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited
InventorsEdwin Yee Man KEH, Lei YAO, Alex CHAN, Mimi HETTI, Yang LIU, Hung CHAN, Wendy YU
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Abstract
Provided herein is a method for decolorizing textile materials under hydrothermal conditions using dye adsorbent materials. The process is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, and the adsorbent materials can be repeatedly used. The textile materials are textile materials dyeable with disperse dyes. Further provided is a system for decolorizing textile materials. The decolorization system is designed to allow the adsorbent materials to react with the textile materials in a contact manner and a non-contact manner.
Claims20
A method for decolorizing textile materials, comprising:
- (a) providing textile materials;
- (b) providing dye adsorbent materials;
- and
- (c) decolorizing the textile materials, comprising:
- (c1) treating the textile materials under hydrothermal conditions in a decolorization reactor in the case where the textile materials are in contact with the dye adsorbent materials, so as to at least partially decolorize the textile materials, and separating the at least partially decolorized textile materials from the dye adsorbent materials;
- or
- (c2) treating the textile materials under hydrothermal conditions in a decolorization reactor in the case where the textile materials are not in contact with the dye adsorbent materials, so as to at least partially decolorize the textile materials, collecting liquid containing dye molecules desorbed from the textile materials from the decolorization reactor, and contacting the collected liquid with the dye adsorbent materials.
A decolorization system for decolorizing textile materials, comprising:
- a decolorization reactor (1) for treating the textile materials under hydrothermal conditions so as to at least partially decolorize the textile materials, wherein the decolorization reactor is provided with a feed inlet (11) and an outlet (12) and is configured to accommodate water, the textile materials and optional dye adsorbent materials;
- a heating device (2) for providing a heat source to the decolorization reactor;
- a filtration device (3) for filtering and collecting the at least partially decolorized textile materials, wherein the filtration device (3) is connected to the outlet (12) of the decolorization reactor (1) via a first valve (4), wherein:
- (i) in the case where the decolorization reactor (1) is configured to accommodate water, the textile materials and the dye adsorbent materials, the decolorization further comprises:
- a separation device (7) for separating and collecting the dye adsorbent materials;
- or
- (ii) in the case where the decolorization reactor (1) is configured to accommodate water and the textile material, the decolorization system further comprises:
- an adsorption device (31) configured to accommodate the dye adsorbent materials, wherein the adsorption device (31) is in fluid communication with the decolorization reactor (1) so as to receive a liquid containing dye molecules desorbed from the textile materials collected from the decolorization reactor (1), and to allow the dye adsorbent materials to contact with the liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.