From Waste to Worth: Innovative Pyrolysis of Textile Waste into Microporous Carbons for Enhanced Environmental Sustainability

The generation of synthetic textile waste is a growing global concern, with an unsustainable rate of expansion. This study addresses the growing issue of synthetic textile waste by converting polyester–polyurethane (PET-PU) post-industrial scraps into microporous carbon materials, which can be utilized for wastewater treatment. Using a straightforward pyrolysis process, we achieved a high specific surface area (632 m2/g) and narrow porosity range (2–10 Å) without requiring chemical activation. The produced carbon materials effectively adsorbed methylene blue and orange II dyes, with maximum adsorption capacities of 169.49 mg/g and 147.56 mg/g, respectively. Kinetic studies demonstrated that adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating strong interactions between the adsorbent and dyes. Regeneration tests showed that the C-PET-PU could be reused for multiple cycles with over 85% retention of its original adsorption capacity. Preliminary life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) analysis highlighted the environmental and economic advantages of this upcycling approach, showing a reduced global warming potential and a production cost of approximately 1.65 EUR/kg. These findings suggest that transforming PET-PU waste into valuable adsorbents provides a sustainable solution for the circular economy and highlights the potential for broader applications in environmental remediation.