Huayu Liu and Feng Jiang

A UBC research team has developed a cleaner way to produce rayon, a popular fabric used in clothing for more than a century. The process could significantly reduce chemical use and improve sustainability in textile manufacturing. The study, led by UBC Forestry associate professor Dr. Feng Jiang and doctoral student Huayu Liu, demonstrates a method for spinning continuous cellulose fibres without the harsh, toxic solvents traditionally used in commercial fibre production. “People have been making synthetic cellulose fibres like rayon for more than 130 years,” says Dr. Jiang. “The material itself is biodegradable and renewable, but the processes behind it can be highly toxic, energy-intensive and damaging to the environment. Our goal was to find a way to dramatically reduce that impact.” …This method cuts out several steps that normally involve bleaching or harsh chemical treatment for dissolving pulp, making the entire process cleaner, simpler and more sustainable.