China starts 1,000-ton plant to make green fabric with zero waste

China has inaugurated the world’s first 1,000-ton-scale ionic liquid cellulose fiber plant in Henan Province, developed by the Institute of Process Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This facility marks a major breakthrough in sustainable textile manufacturing by using advanced ionic liquid technology to produce regenerated cellulose fibers with near-zero emissions. Unlike conventional fiber production that relies on toxic solvents such as carbon disulfide and N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO), this new process employs stable, non-volatile ionic liquids that eliminate wastewater, waste gas, and solid byproducts, significantly reducing environmental pollution. The ionic liquids used are a novel class of salts that remain liquid near room temperature and possess tunable properties, allowing them to dissolve plant-based cellulose without harsh chemicals. This innovation not only cuts carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 5,000 tons annually compared to traditional fossil fiber production but also achieves over 99% solvent recovery, underscoring its environmental benefits. After more than a decade of