The textile and apparel industry is a significant contributor to solid waste generation, and the transformation of these wastes into value-added products is essential for advancing circular economy principles and achieving zero-waste objectives. In this study, a waste-to-functionalization approach was employed to upcycle textile waste into activated carbon (AC), which was subsequently applied onto textile substrates to develop odor-control functional fabrics.
Activated carbons were produced from three types of textile waste materials: cotton (CO), cotton and/or polyester (PES) blends and hemp (HA)-based fabrics. These carbons were applied onto cotton and polyester fabrics using a conventional screen-printing technique. For comparative evaluation, a commercial AC product was also utilized. The odor control performance of the treated fabrics was assessed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Air permeability, water vapor and thermal resistance and moisture management characteristics were also tested.
Results demonstrated that activated carbons derived from textile waste significantly reduced odor emissions compared to both untreated fabrics and those treated with commercial AC, with the most pronounced effect observed in cotton fabrics. Furthermore, fabrics printed with textile waste-derived activated carbons exhibited acceptable water vapor resistance and improved moisture management characteristics.
This study thus presents a new and viable waste management strategy for the valorization of textile waste, while simultaneously imparting odor-control functionality to fabrics, indicating potential for applications in sportswear and casual wear.
