Progress in recycling and valorization of waste silk

Linlin Lu; Wei Fan; Shengbo Ge; Rock Keey Liew; Yang Shi; Hao Dou; Shujuan Wang; Su Shiung Lam

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154812

Progress in recycling and valorization of waste silk

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jul 15:830:154812. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154812. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Authors

Linlin Lu¹, Wei Fan², Shengbo Ge³, Rock Keey Liew⁴, Yang Shi⁵, Hao Dou¹, Shujuan Wang⁶, Su Shiung Lam⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Textile Science and Engineering, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710048, China; Key Laboratory of Functional Textile Material and Product (Xi'an Polytechnic University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710048, China.
² School of Textile Science and Engineering, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710048, China; Key Laboratory of Functional Textile Material and Product (Xi'an Polytechnic University), Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710048, China. Electronic address: fanwei@xpu.edu.cn.
³ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China. Electronic address: geshengbo@njfu.edu.cn.
⁴ NV WESTERN PLT, No. 208B, Second floor, Macalister Road, 10400 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia; Eco-Innovation Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁵ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
⁶ School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
⁷ Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China. Electronic address: lam@umt.edu.my.

PMID: 35341869
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154812

Abstract

Due to the improvements in living standards and the "throw away" culture of mankind, large amount of waste textiles is constantly generated. In particular, silk is an abundant high-grade textile material with characteristics of wear comfort, high profit, and low supply with high demand, but it transforms into waste when discarded. This paper reviews the current progress of recycling and reuse of waste silk from the aspects of energy, yarn and fabric, reinforcement of composites, silk fibroin, biological tissue engineering, filtration of air and water, and electrode. The modification, optimization and application of regenerated silk fibroin extracted from waste silk are promising to industrialization and sustainable development. Making waste silk functional and intelligently wearable are two ways of recycling waste silk with low cost and high return value in the near future. The recovery and utilization of waste silk provide a paradigm for valorization of other fiber-based waste such as wool, cotton, bast and synthetic fibers.

Keywords: Circular economy; Recycling; Silk; Textile waste; Waste management.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Fibroins*
Recycling
Silk*
Textiles

Substances

Silk
Fibroins