Abstract
The textile industry faces significant challenges in managing post-consumer waste, particularly polyester-cotton (PES/CO) blends, which are difficult to recycle due to their mixed composition. This study investigates the enzymatic degradation of PES/CO blends using a two-step enzymatic process: cellulase for cotton hydrolysis and cutinase for polyester depolymerization. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted on model fabrics with varying blend ratios (50/50, 65/35, 80/20 PES/CO) under optimized conditions (pH 5.0, 50°C, 24 h). Results show that cellulase treatment achieved up to 92% hydrolysis of the cotton component, while subsequent cutinase treatment yielded up to 78% conversion of polyester to monomers (terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol). The combined process reduced fabric mass by 45–60% and enabled recovery of high-purity monomers. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed progressive fiber degradation. Life-cycle assessment indicated a 40% reduction in global warming potential compared to incineration. These findings demonstrate that enzymatic degradation is a viable route for circular economy in textiles, offering selective recovery of building blocks from blended wastes.