Green Machine — using hydrothermal technology to separate and recycle polyester and cotton blends
Established in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards is the only S&T (science and technology) awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies, and materials for their technological significance that are available for sale or license. The R&D 100 Awards, celebrating the program's 60th Anniversary this year, has long been a benchmark of excellence for industry sectors as diverse as telecommunications, high-energy physics, software, manufacturing, and biotechnology. This 2022 R&D 100 winner is listed below, along with its respective category.
Category: Process/Prototyping
Developers: The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited (HKRITA)
Hong Kong
Product Description:Green Machine uses HKRITA’s hydrothermal technology to separate PET-cotton blended textile fibres and decolour the PET fibre with crosslinked polystyrene beads and activated carbon particles for re-spinning into new yarn. Cotton are turned into cellulosic powders to produce new yarn, PFC-free water-repellent textile finishing or superabsorbent polymer for cotton plantation.
Developers: The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited (HKRITA)
Hong Kong
Product Description:Green Machine uses HKRITA’s hydrothermal technology to separate PET-cotton blended textile fibres and decolour the PET fibre with crosslinked polystyrene beads and activated carbon particles for re-spinning into new yarn. Cotton are turned into cellulosic powders to produce new yarn, PFC-free water-repellent textile finishing or superabsorbent polymer for cotton plantation.
Green Machine in PT Kahatex, Indonesia