Project outputs

Demonstration of pilot-scale trials

LCA of nano-textiles and conventional finished textiles of the four functionalities

Risk assessment of nano-textiles and conventional finished textiles

Proposal for updating the BREF for textile industry, REACH and other

environmental EU policy

Design and development of EcoTexNano tool

LIFE CYCLE APPROACH FOR COMPARING NANO-BASED TEXTILE FINISHING PROCESSES VERSUS CONVENTIONAL TEXTILE FINISHING. ECOTEXNANO PROJECT

Raquel Villalba1, Marta Escamilla1

1Leitat Technological Centre. C. de la Innovació, 2 08255 - Terrassa (Barcelona (Spain) www.leitat.org rvillalba@leitat.org; mescamilla@leitat.org

ECOTEXNANO is coordinated by LEITAT Technological Center, leading a consortium formed by PIACENZA CASHMERE, VINCOLOR SA, ITENE and CENTEXBEL.

For more information you can visit the project website www.life-ecotexnano.eu or follow us in the social networks: LinkedIn and Twitter.

For any questions and suggestions, you can contact by email: info@life-ecotexnano.eu

ECOTEXNANO is a project co-funded by the European Community under the LIFE+ Financial

Instrument within the axe Environment Policy and Governance and under the Grant Agreement n. LIFE12ENV/ES/000667

ECOTEXNANO OBJECTIVES

Benefits of applying LCA: The analysis allows quantifying the environmental impacts.

Using a standard methodology to assess the environmental impact.

LCA provides useful information that helps to demonstrate the improvement

reached by the application of the BATs or a good practise.

Comparing two scenarios: conventional vs nano-based processes.

Specific results are expressed by impact categories (i.e. GWP reduction)

With the contribution of the LIFE financial

instrument of the European Community

Textile Functionalities Using Nanomaterials

ANTIMICROBIAL FLAME RETARDANT PROPERTIES

SOIL-RELEASE UV-PROTECTION

Two scale trials

PIACENZA

Italy

VINCOLOR

Spain

The aim of EcoTexNano is to improve the environmental performance of

innovative solutions in the field of technical textiles incorporating

nanoparticles.

EcoTexNano goals:

To improve the added value of textiles by providing the textiles with interesting properties by the application of nanomaterials.

To identify and reduce the environmental and health impacts by carrying out a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment and Risk Assessment/Risk management of the selected nanomaterials.

To run two pilot-scale trials to provide evidence of best practices in the application of nanobased techniques compared to conventional finishing chemicals.

To increase knowledge on nanomaterials for further development of human health and environmental EU policy, such as REACH, BREF for textile sector, regulations of biocidal products and CLP regulation.

To contribute to the regulatory work initiated at the European level on nanomaterials (NanoREG) with knowledge in the field of nanotechnology-based textiles.

To increase consumer’s awareness on the HSE impacts of the textile sector using nanomaterials.

To provide the ECOTEXNANO Tool, aimed to Textile industry.

Upholstery fabrics

2 functionalities:

Soil-release

Flame retardant

Luxury garment fabrics

3 functionalities:

Soil-release

Antimicrobial

UV-Protection

EcoTexNano Scheme

Partners:

Analyzing versus conventional finishing textile processes

Using nanomaterials available in the market

Environmental, health and safety impacts

are assessed in manufacturing

operations, encouraging the integration

of green technologies.

Pilot scale trials at VINCOLOR Pilot scale trials at PIACENZA

Comparison between conventional and nano-based production of two different textiles– Soil release Comparison between conventional and nano-based production of two different textiles– Flame retardant

Chemicals

Impacts distribution among components in nano-based production , UV protection

Textile Functionality Environmental Issues Main impacts BAT applied Interpreted results

Soil-release (SR)

Fluorochemical repel-

lents produce emis-

sions of volatile or-

ganic compounds in

exhaust air.

Water pollution.

Solvents.

The “extenders”, un-

der high tempera-

ture, give rise to

cracked by-products

such as alcohols and

ketones.

Organo-fluoro com-

ponents release

cracked fluor-organic

by-products.

Poor biodegradability

and bio-eliminability.

Waste management

Re-using padding liquors

Mechanical dewatering

equipment

Insulating systems

Optimal maintenance of

the burners (stenters)

Higher impact in the nano

-based process.

Highlighted impact catego-

ries:

-Climate change

-Ozone depletion

-Mineral, fossil & renew-

able resource depletion

Flame retardant (FR) Discharges of halo-

genated FR into waste

water.

Special care should be

taken for the disposal

of the sludge and

solid waste containing

these halogenated

compounds.

Toxicity to aquatic

life due to dis-

charges in waste wa-

ter.

Alteration of the mi-

crobial activity.

Waste management

Insulating systems

Optimal maintenance of

the burners (stenters)

Energy management

Low air emission opti-

mised recipes

Lower impact in the nano

-based process in all im-

pact categories.

Almost 100% reduction on:

-Ozone depletion

-Human toxicity, non can-

cer effects

-Ionizing radiation (HH

and E)

-Freshwater eutrophication

-Land use

-Water depletion

Antimicrobial (AM) Wastewater pollution

with Silver nanoparti-

cles.

Toxicity to aquatic

life due to dis-

charges in waste wa-

ter.

Automated dosing and

dispensing systems

Waste management

Mechanical dewatering

equipment

Optimal maintenance of

the burners (stenters)

Higher impact in the

nano-based process.

Probably due to quantity

of chemicals.

Most relevant on:

-Human toxicity, non can-

cer effects

-Freshwater eutrophication

-Mineral fossil & ren re-

source depletion

UV-protection (UV) Wastewater pollution

with nano-TiO2 com-

ing from the liquid

bath of the padding

process.

Nano-TiO₂ could

disrupt an aquatic

ecosystem carbon

and nitrogen cycles.

Automated dosing and

dispensing systems

Waste management

Mechanical dewatering

equipment

Optimal maintenance of

the burners (stenters)

No possible comparison.

TiO2 Nano-dispersion

contribute (over 40%) to

higher:

-Human toxicity (both can-

cer and non-cancer effects)

-Mineral, fossil & ren re-

source depletion

Outcomes No systematic trends have been observed.

The environmental performance demonstrated of

each technology is very dependent on the type of

functionality tested, so the type of chemicals used

There are not specific evidences associated to the

particles size of these chemicals.

Further experiments would be needed with for-

mulated products (same products) in different

particle sizes, in order to design specific modelling

of the particles release and to draw specific con-

clusions that could solve any of these hypotheses.

THE PROJECT

COMPARATIVE LCA BETWEEN NANO AND CONVENTIONAL TEXTILE FINISHING