Mass Balance Chain of Custody Audits for Recycled Polymers
Mass balance chain of custody audits verify that book-entry polymer credits reflect real cracker yields without energy deductions or invalid multi-site sharing.
Gasification
Thermal Conversion
Chemical recycling processes utilize high-temperature degradation to transform carbonaceous waste into basic chemical building blocks. The technique of gasification converts discarded polyester fabrics and blended textile waste into synthetic gas under controlled oxygen levels. This process allows mills to recycle heavily contaminated or mixed-fibre waste that cannot be processed by mechanical recycling.
It represents a closed-loop alternative to landfilling or incinerating municipal textile waste.
Process Mechanism
Reactor vessels operate at temperatures above seven hundred degrees Celsius to break down complex synthetic polymers. During gasification, the raw textile scrap reacts with steam and limited oxygen to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This reaction must be carefully balanced to prevent the formation of excessive carbon dioxide.
The resulting gas is scrubbed to remove impurities such as chlorine and sulfur before it is processed further.
Synthesis Gas
Chemical plants use the purified synthetic gas to rebuild virgin-quality polyester monomers. This synthesis allows the production of recycled polyester fibre that has identical physical properties to fossil-derived polyester. The resulting yarn can be woven, dyed, and finished using standard textile equipment.
Textile Circularity
Recyclers run these facilities continuously to maintain the high thermal efficiency required for commercial viability. This continuous operation demands a steady supply of sorted textile waste.