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Dye removal from polyester fibres unlocks textile recycling

Dyes in textile waste streams pose a major barrier to textile-to-textile recycling. Our research has developed an upstream platform that effectively removes dyes from polyester and other textiles using sustainable, biologically derived solvents, and enables the recycling of both fibres and dyes.

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Fig. 1: Dye extraction from polyester textiles.

References

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This is a summary of: Lee, M. et al. Extraction, purification, and reuse of dyes from coloured polyester textiles. Nat. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01686-7 (2025).

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Dye removal from polyester fibres unlocks textile recycling. Nat Sustain 9, 20–21 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01697-4

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