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wipes, building insulation, mattresses, car interiors and furniture fillings, can be created with these roll goods. Chemical recycling Chemical recycling of textile waste is a vital, emerging business area. It is the piece of the puzzle that completes the picture of textile-to-textile circularity. Andritz is a key player here because the core process steps involved can use the same equipment as in existing pulp and paper technology. The process often requires the input of raw material based on a blend of different fibres that have been mechanically treated prior to chemical modification. Andritz has the equipment and expertise to offer technology solutions for new chemical processes according to the customer’s needs. This includes complete production lines and individual equipment for chemical recycling processes such as washing, mixing, cooking, bleaching and drying. Depending on the customer’s technology solution, cellulose-based fibres and polyester from fibre blends, for example, are further modified to allow them to be used in any textile fibre spinning process (such as viscose or Lyocell production) in the same way as market dissolving pulp. Alexandre Butte, general manager, and Charles Junker, head of sales, at Andritz Laroche, say: “Chemical and mechanical processes are fully complementary in the drive to achieve the desired end result, but the addition of chemical treatment is certainly a game changer for textile-to-textile recycling.” They add: “The great thing with our range of technologies is that we can adjust the process according to the end use. If you require a certain colour of yarn, then this can be achieved through a combination of the choice of textile waste, the use of dyes and the chemical input – these can all be balanced to optimise the process and minimise the use of bleach for example.” Cross-industry collaborations Cross-industry collaborations are also vital to promote circularity. Andritz has partnered with both Infinited Fiber Company and CIRC in recent years. In 2020, Andritz and Infinted Fiber Company signed a cooperation agreement to develop the process and equipment solutions for Infinited Fiber Company’s
textile fibre regeneration technology. This turns any cellulose-rich raw material – including discarded textiles, used cardboard or rice/wheat straw – into Infinna cellulose carbamate fibres. Under the cooperation agreement, the two companies work together to develop the factory process and equipment solutions. The aim is to optimise every process step in preparation for the technology to be scaled up to commercial production. Hannu Råmark, vice president of technology, fibre technologies, and Elina Pesonen, product manager of fibre technologies, in the pulp & paper division at Andritz, say: “It was a big feature in the establishment of our cooperation with Infinited Fiber Company that they saw we have so many different technologies, essentially a one-stop shop.” They add: “Andritz is happy to work with Infinited Fiber Company to create solutions for textile recycling, especially bearing in mind that the EU Waste Framework Directive legislates that Member States should set up separate collection for textiles by 1 January 2025.” Infinited Fiber Company is building a 30,000 t/a flagship plant in Finland, representing an investment of €220m (US$232m), which is due to go into operation in 2024. Currently, Andritz is conducting pre-engineering for the pre-treatment of textile waste for the flagship plant. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Andritz signed a cooperation agreement with CIRC in 2021. Located in Virginia (US), the companies are pooling their expertise in the field of textile recycling to upscale CIRC’s recycling extraction of both recycled PET and cotton from polycotton to produce new textiles, while only non-recyclable elements like buttons and zippers in the feed material are rejected. The CIRC/Andritz concept is a technology for commercial use. The concept is based on the combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical process steps. First, PET is dissolved, separated and transformed into recycled PET. The cotton released is processed in the fibre line, where the quality is adjusted and all the residuals of PET and other impurities, including dyes, are removed. Recycled cotton can then be used as a feed material in the Lyocell process, for example.
Of course, processing polycotton has its challenges, one of which is to understand end-use requirements and find ways to measure relevant parameters to control final quality and the process. But Andritz has proved the feasibility of the concept in repeated small-scale production runs at its pilot plant in Springfield (Ohio, US). CIRC intends to have its first factory up and running in commercial operation in 2024, with Andritz Andritz has a full suite of expertise and technology to provide tailormade textile recycling processes that manage diverse types of textile waste. But it also leads the way in R&D, with a worldwide network of pilot plants and technology centers, offering platforms for customer trials and R&D work. In addition, the company’s capabilities in the field of digital solutions offer an opportunity to optimise equipment and system performance. With the experience and skills for material conditioning, mechanical, chemical and combined recycling methods, Andritz cooperates with innovative technology partners and focuses on continuous further development of machinery and recycling processes to accompany the customer throughout the product life cycle and equipment installed. The full suite beyond. Quite simply, Andritz is the partner with the vision, expertise and capability when it comes to textile recycling processes. Andritz Laroche offers a complete process range of tearing equipment
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