REVIVING CELLULOSE-BASED INDUSTRIAL TEXTILE WASTES INTO RECYCLED PAPERS

This study evaluates the feasibility of upcycling cellulose-based industrial textile wastes as reinforcement materials in recycled paper production. Waste cotton, flax, and hemp fibers were incorporated into recycled paper pulp at weight ratios of 25, 50, and 75 wt% to examine their effects on the physical and mechanical properties of handmade papers. Physical properties (basis weight, thickness, and water absorption) and mechanical performance (tensile index and tensile energy absorption index) were characterized. The results showed that textile fiber reinforcement significantly improved the mechanical performance of recycled papers. Cotton-reinforced papers exhibited increasing tensile strength and energy absorption with higher fiber content, whereas flax- and hemp-reinforced papers achieved maximum strength at lower fiber ratios. The highest tensile index (49.08 Nm/g) and tensile energy absorption index (3.11 J/g) were achieved with 75 wt% cotton fiber reinforcement. Water absorption behavior was strongly influenced by fiber type and crystallinity, showing an inverse relationship with mechanical performance. The findings demonstrated that cellulose-rich textile waste can serve as a sustainable reinforcement for recycled paper, supporting circular material use between the textile and paper industries and enabling applications in art, packaging, and value-added paper products.