HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02: Advancing recycling technologies for mixed post-consumer textiles waste from blended products (IA)

SOCAR R&D is a major research and development center specializing in advanced materials, chemical process engineering, and industrial-scale implementation, particularly within the petrochemical and refining sectors. We are actively seeking consortia focused on the industrialization of next-generation recycling technologies for complex textile waste.

Leveraging our deep expertise in polymer science and quality control, we offer critical capabilities essential for closing the loop on petrochemical-derived synthetic fibers found in blended textile products. We aim to ensure that emerging recycling solutions deliver truly circular, high-quality material streams suitable for re-entry into industrial supply chains.

Key Expertise Offered:

1. Polymer Characterization and Specification Setting Our core strength lies in detailed material analysis and quality assurance, which is crucial for handling variable post-consumer textile waste:

• Input Material Specification: We provide the expertise to accurately characterize the complex blends and contaminants within mixed textile waste streams (e.g., polycotton, multi-material composites). This is vital for optimizing chemical or biotech-based separation and purification processes.

• Contaminant Analysis: Specialized capabilities in identifying and quantifying challenging additives, dyes, coatings, and persistent chemicals (as referred to in the topic scope) to ensure regulatory compliance and process safety throughout the recycling chain.

2. Validation and Industrial Quality Control of Recyclates We ensure that the output from novel recycling processes meets the demanding purity and performance standards required by the petrochemical industry for true fibre-to-fibre applications:

• Recyclate Validation: We provide rigorous analytical testing and validation protocols for recovered monomers or secondary polymers. This validates their composition, purity, and molecular integrity against specifications for industrial applications.

• Performance Benchmarking: Expertise in testing the mechanical, chemical, and functional performance of recycled materials to ensure they are functionally equivalent or superior to virgin materials, thus facilitating manufacturer uptake.

3. Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Data Provision (TEA/LCA) To secure funding and demonstrate market viability, robust sustainability and economic assessments are mandatory. We contribute high-quality industrial data and expertise for comprehensive analysis:

• LCA Data Supply: Providing verifiable industrial data necessary for a complete Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), often based on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology, to quantify environmental benefits (e.g., reduced GHG emissions, resource efficiency) of the new recycling technology compared to existing methods.

• TEA Inputs: Offering detailed cost, process efficiency, and scale-up parameters for Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), thereby developing credible business cases and exploitation strategies for industrial scale-up (TRL 6-8) and market readiness.