Chemoenzymatic Recycling of Elastane Fiber

Elastane (a.k.a. Spandex in the U.S.), a highly elastic polyurethane fiber, is a key component in activewear and stretch fabrics. Its presence, even at low levels, makes mechanical and conventional chemical recycling of blended textiles extremely difficult. This project includes three technical phases: chemical pretreatment and separation, enzymatic depolymerization, and monomer recovery and valorization. Join us in the Sustainable Polymer Research group, where we design and synthesize polymers with their end-of-life in mind.