In our research, we aim at tackling the growing quantities of textile waste and water pollution originating from the steeply increasing production of textiles. The dyeing process is the most polluting step in the mostly linear textile chain. More sustainable textile fibres and an improvement of the recycling of cellulose-based textiles is urgently needed.<br/><br/>Using the Ioncell process, a Lyocell-type technology, we propose to spin-dye man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) with pigment dyes, resulting in textile fibres with excellent mechanical and colour fastness properties. Spin-dyeing is an established process for synthetic polymer fibres but is not implemented widely for cellulosic textile fibres. Our earlier experiments have shown that when using the Ioncell technology, the amount of dye needed to achieve strong colours is significantly lower than with traditional dyeing. This would be especially beneficial for the production of textiles that are produced in large quantities such as black or dark blue. Further, previous studies have shown high potential for recycling of spun-dyed fibres. Therefore, we investigated multiple recycling cycles of the produced fibres to study the changes in the properties of the fibres, such as colour intensity, cellulose DP, mechanical properties, and colour fastness. Through ICP analysis we studied the potential loss of dye during the process.<br/><br/>Low concentrations of pigment dye were dispersed in the ionic liquid 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene acetate before dissolving cellulose pulp in the respective dye suspension. The cellulose solution was then dry-jet wet spun into fibres, that were made into yarn and thereafter knitted into a jersey fabric. This produced fabric was then redissolved and respun into virgin fibers. The produced spun-dyed fibres with excellent mechanical and fastness properties present a sustainable alternative path to dyed textiles.

Spin-dyeing man-made cellulosic fibres with pigment dyes and their recyclability

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