Reprogramming hydrogen-bonding networks at the solvent-polymer interface for mixed polyester waste depolymerization with high selectivity.

The global textile waste accumulation severely threatens ecosystems and public health. While catalytic transformation of this waste into value-added chemicals presents a promising path, the complex structure of blended fabrics prevents clean fiber separation, leading to impure products and practical recycling difficulties. To address this, we have introduced sulfolane into a solvent system that can selectively depolymerize polyesters within mixed textile waste. By reprogramming hydrogen-bonding networks at the solvent-polymer interface and by swelling the PET matrix, this system could break down ester bonds efficiently under mild conditions with yielding terephthalic acid (TPA) of 99% purity and 99% monomer recovery rate. Meanwhile, it also fully preserves the structures integrity of cotton and spandex across diverse substrates, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), and other engineering plastics. This high selectivity coupled with a dynamic amphiphilic interface, together with inherent solvent recyclability and in-situ decolorization, offers a sustainable closed-loop strategy for tackling textile and plastic waste problems.