Kettering, Ohio Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
Hybridworks Chemical LLC has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for a groundbreaking textile recycling method. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 11958944, titled ‘Polyester-cotton blend textile recycling process and system with rotating hydrolysis reactor’, transforms how blended fabrics are reused by breaking them down more efficiently and sustainably.
Hybridworks’ patented system tackles one of the toughest problems in textile waste: recycling polyester-cotton blends. Traditional methods struggle to separate these two fibers cleanly. This new process uses a rotating hydrolysis reactor to break down cotton fibers while preserving polyester for reuse.
The rotating design keeps materials evenly exposed to chemical treatment, improving reaction speed and consistency. As a result, the system significantly reduces energy use, waste, and processing time compared to conventional approaches.
This innovation offers real-world impact for both manufacturers and the environment. It allows companies to recover high-quality polyester from post-consumer garments and scrap material that would otherwise end up in landfills. The recovered fibers can be reused in new textiles, creating a more circular and sustainable apparel industry.
With global demand rising for greener supply chains, Hybridworks Chemical LLC is leading the way in scalable, high-efficiency recycling. Their invention marks a major step forward in closing the loop for blended fabrics and reducing the fashion industry’s environmental footprint.