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N. A. Ibrahim and B. M. Eid
alternative, to traditional wet chemical processes, to produce desirable effects with
minimal environmental negative impacts, and to impart high level of functionalities
and new properties without adversely affecting bulk properties of treated substrates,
taking in consideration the resource efficient use of both materials and energy, have
been practiced [9–12].
The present book chapter primarily focuses on: (i) overview of traditional chemical
wet processing of cellulosic substrates and their negative impacts, and (ii) overview
of plasma technologies, advantages and shortcomings, factors affecting plasma treatments as well as their potential applications for environmentally sound and green
finishing processes. Lastly, recent progress and some future outlooks regarding
industrial textile applications of green plasma technology will be discussed.
2 Conventional Wet-Chemical Processing
Wet chemical processing of cellulose-based textiles is a very important stage in production chain due to its positive role in upgrading the aesthetic, performance and
comfort properties along with imparting value added functionalities to meet the consumer needs [1, 13]. Textile finishing industry is a very diverse production sector
in terms of raw materials, processing stages, available techniques and final products. Conventional wet-chemical processing of cellulosic fabrics is the segment of
the textile chain production processes that involves pretreatment (desizing, scouring,
bleaching and mercerizing), coloration (dyeing and printing), and chemical finishing (Fig. 1). The traditional wet-chemical processing, especially of cellulose based
textiles, is characterized by huge consumption of water, energy and processing chemicals along with creation of highly polluted effluents which in turn negatively impact
both the eco-system and human health [9, 12–14].
Textile industry is one of the top 10 most polluting industries [15]. Pretreatment
and finishing processes consume the greatest share (≈ 35%) of the thermal energy
in form of steam and heat [16]. On the other hand, pretreatments of cotton based
textiles consume nearly 38% of the total water consumption for cotton wet-chemical
processing [13]. Moreover, nearly 25% of globally produced chemicals are used
in textile wet-chemical processing [16]. About 8000 different chemicals are utilized in textile wet-chemical processing, and some of these processing chemicals
are harmful, hazardous and/or non-biodegradable which in turn negatively affect
the sustainable development of the finishing industry and its environmental performance [17]. Additionally, textile finishing industry significantly affects the carbon
footprints as well as greenhouse gas emissions as a direct consequence of high thermal energy consumption [18]. Key factors affecting the generation of various types
of waste streams such as large volume of chemical-laden waste water, air emissions,
solid and hazardous wastes include type of textile substrate, processing chemicals,
available technologies, production chain, availability of on-line monitoring systems
as well as the demanded performance and functional properties of the final product
N. A. Ibrahim and B. M. Eid
alternative, to traditional wet chemical processes, to produce desirable effects with
minimal environmental negative impacts, and to impart high level of functionalities
and new properties without adversely affecting bulk properties of treated substrates,
taking in consideration the resource efficient use of both materials and energy, have
been practiced [9–12].
The present book chapter primarily focuses on: (i) overview of traditional chemical
wet processing of cellulosic substrates and their negative impacts, and (ii) overview
of plasma technologies, advantages and shortcomings, factors affecting plasma treatments as well as their potential applications for environmentally sound and green
finishing processes. Lastly, recent progress and some future outlooks regarding
industrial textile applications of green plasma technology will be discussed.
2 Conventional Wet-Chemical Processing
Wet chemical processing of cellulose-based textiles is a very important stage in production chain due to its positive role in upgrading the aesthetic, performance and
comfort properties along with imparting value added functionalities to meet the consumer needs [1, 13]. Textile finishing industry is a very diverse production sector
in terms of raw materials, processing stages, available techniques and final products. Conventional wet-chemical processing of cellulosic fabrics is the segment of
the textile chain production processes that involves pretreatment (desizing, scouring,
bleaching and mercerizing), coloration (dyeing and printing), and chemical finishing (Fig. 1). The traditional wet-chemical processing, especially of cellulose based
textiles, is characterized by huge consumption of water, energy and processing chemicals along with creation of highly polluted effluents which in turn negatively impact
both the eco-system and human health [9, 12–14].
Textile industry is one of the top 10 most polluting industries [15]. Pretreatment
and finishing processes consume the greatest share (≈ 35%) of the thermal energy
in form of steam and heat [16]. On the other hand, pretreatments of cotton based
textiles consume nearly 38% of the total water consumption for cotton wet-chemical
processing [13]. Moreover, nearly 25% of globally produced chemicals are used
in textile wet-chemical processing [16]. About 8000 different chemicals are utilized in textile wet-chemical processing, and some of these processing chemicals
are harmful, hazardous and/or non-biodegradable which in turn negatively affect
the sustainable development of the finishing industry and its environmental performance [17]. Additionally, textile finishing industry significantly affects the carbon
footprints as well as greenhouse gas emissions as a direct consequence of high thermal energy consumption [18]. Key factors affecting the generation of various types
of waste streams such as large volume of chemical-laden waste water, air emissions,
solid and hazardous wastes include type of textile substrate, processing chemicals,
available technologies, production chain, availability of on-line monitoring systems
as well as the demanded performance and functional properties of the final product