Contribution to the circular economy through the utilization of fibrous textile waste as biosorbents for water purification

Abstract

Frequent changes in clothing fashion trends and the furniture industry have led to the excessive consumption of textiles to meet human needs. This leads to an increase in the production and finishing of textile materials, and the generation of large amounts of waste, making the textile industry one of the main polluters of the environment nowadays. Therefore, there are concerns about the reckless disposal of chemical and solid textile waste (natural or synthetic yarns, fibers, pieces of clothing, etc.) which can cause serious soil, water, and air pollution. To reduce the amount of waste generated in the industry, and preserve the environment and human health, it is necessary to apply modern trends of sustainable development. These trends imply the simultaneous satisfaction of the principles of ecological efficiency, social responsibility, and economic profitability. In this way, waste from the textile industry becomes a resource of the circular economy system with the aim of realizing sustainable development. In this work, waste materials of lignocellulosic, cellulosic, and synthetic origin were used as biosorbents for the purification of water polluted by organic and inorganic pollutants. This kind of waste utilization represents a special way of recycling, which is one of the most important links in the chain of sustainable development.

Česte promene modnih trendova u odevnoj industriji, kao i industriji nameštaja, dovode do prekomerne potrošnje tekstila. Ovo direktno utiče na povećanje proizvodnje i dorade tekstilnih materijala, kao i stvaranja velike količine otpada, što tekstilnu industriju čini jednim od najvećih zagađivača životne sredine. Poseban problem predstavlja odlaganje hemijskog i čvrstog tekstilnog otpada (prirodna i sintetička prediva, vlakna, komadi odeće itd.) koji mogu izazvati ozbiljno zagađenje zemljišta, vode i vazduha. U cilju smanjenja količine otpada koji se generiše u industriji, a samim tim i očuvanja životne sredine i zdravlja ljudi, primenjuju se moderni trendovi održivog razvoja, koji podrazumeva istovremeno zadovoljenje principa ekološke efikasnosti, društvene odgovornosti i ekonomske isplativosti. Na taj način otpad iz tekstilne industrije postaje resurs sistema cirkularne ekonomije sa ciljem realizacije održivog razvoja. U ovom radu, otpadni materijali lignoceluloznog, celuloznog i sintetičkog porekla korišćeni su kao biosorbenti za prečišćavanje vode zagađene organskim i neorganskim polutantima. Ovakvo korišćenje otpada predstavlja specijalni vid reciklaže koja je jedna od najvažnijih karika u lancu održivog razvoja.