Abstract: A method for processing polyester-cotton blend textile waste includes adding polyester-cotton blend textile waste to a rotating drum of a rotary hydrolysis reactor. Water and a base are added to the rotary hydrolysis reactor and heated. The polyester-cotton blend textile waste is agitated with a plurality of ribs by rotating the inner drum relative to a housing of the rotary hydrolysis reactor to enable the hydrolysis of PET into a TPA and ethylene glycol solution with solid reclaimed cotton free of PET. The TPA and ethylene glycol solution is separated from the solid reclaimed cotton and directed to a hydrolysate recovery vessel. In the hydrolysate recovery vessel the TPA is precipitated and separated from the remaining liquid and the ethylene glycol is then recovered.

Abstract: A method for processing polyester-cotton blend textile waste includes adding polyester-cotton blend textile waste to a rotating drum of a rotary hydrolysis reactor. Water and a base are added to the rotary hydrolysis reactor and heated. The polyester-cotton blend textile waste is agitated with a plurality of ribs by rotating the inner drum relative to a housing of the rotary hydrolysis reactor to enable the hydrolysis of PET into a TPA and ethylene glycol solution with solid reclaimed cotton free of PET. The TPA and ethylene glycol solution is separated from the solid reclaimed cotton and directed to a hydrolysate recovery vessel. In the hydrolysate recovery vessel the TPA is precipitated and separated from the remaining liquid and the ethylene glycol is then recovered.