Pioneering Work in Textile Recycling: BOKU's Role in the Josef Ressel Center ReSTex
The Josef Ressel Center for Utilization Strategies for Textiles (ReSTex) addresses one of the textile industry's most pressing challenges: the efficient and environmentally friendly recycling of cotton-polyester mixed fabrics. Led by Christian Schimper, the center at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt brings together experts from science and industry to develop innovative recycling technologies.
In the research consortium of the JR-Center ReSTex, BOKU holds a key position, represented by Prof. Thomas Rosenau from the Department of Chemistry of Renewable Resources and Prof. Georg Gübitz from the IFA Tulln. Rosenau, recognized for his work in cellulose chemistry, and Gübitz, an expert in enzyme technology, contribute their extensive expertise to achieve ReSTex's goal: the development of processes that allow for gentle and efficient separation of fibers, thus ensuring high-quality recycling of textile materials.
The challenge faced by the JR-Center ReSTex lies in the complexity of modern textile material composition. Cotton-polyester mixed fabrics, a widely used material in the clothing industry, pose a particularly stubborn problem in recycling due to their close fiber connection and chemical diversity. ReSTex research addresses this by developing enzymatic and chemical processes that enable fiber separation without losing quality, thus paving the way for a more sustainable textile industry. Through the close collaboration between BOKU and the JR-Center ReSTex, synergies arise that have the potential to change the textile recycling industry fundamentally. BOKU contributes specific expertise to the research and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-institutional cooperation in solving global environmental problems. With the commitment of scientists like Rosenau and Gübitz, BOKU positions itself at the forefront of research for sustainable material management and significantly contributes to the development of technologies that offer ecologically and economically sustainable perspectives.
Further information on the project: