Bio-based Synthetic Fibers: A Sustainable Alternative to Petroleum-Based Textiles

In recent years, the excessive use of crude oil has led to resource depletion and environmental pollution, which has greatly impacted our society . To date, synthetic textile fibers such as polyester, nylon, spandex, and acrylic fiber mostly come from petroleum-based sources.

The synthesis of these fibers is often accompanied by the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and the rise in the price of petroleum . As oil storage is mainly concentrated in Middle East countries, oil trade and transportation between different countries are often accompanied by risks such as oil leakage and natural disasters . Besides, it is facing the dilemma of increasing depletion as it is a non-renewable resource. The energy demand is also rising with the recent scientific and technological progress and overall lifestyle development. Therefore, using new biobased materials has attracted increasing attention by reducing the dependence on fossil fuels such as petroleum-based sources and can be considered a source of positive environmental impact.

Biobased synthetic fiber is extracted from natural renewable resources and synthesized from renewable biomass. Biomass is environmentally friendly, renewable, and biodegradable . Biomass, as the only source of renewable biological carbon, can be regenerated within a decade, while fossil resources need millions of years to regenerate, so fossil resources are often called non-renewable resources. Moreover, the biomass industry is developing continuously and rapidly due to the enormous pressure of petrochemical products on the environment. Therefore, the research and development of synthetic polymers from renewable resources, which are then spun into biobased fibers, is a feasible solution to the problems of energy depletion and environmental pollution in the current global society . Biobased fiber raw materials come from a wide range of sources and are often cheap and environmentally friendly. Since almost all countries have rich reserves of biomass raw material resources, thus, obtaining biobased materials would stop the dependence on a few oil-rich countries. Their raw materials are produced through fermentation using agricultural, forestry, and marine wastes or by-products as raw materials. Recent research shows that biobased polyesters and polyamides can serve as promising textile materials . Since their products are friendly to the human body and environment, appreciated by most people, and lead the global textile consumption trend. With attention paid to the comprehensive utilization of resources and the progress of synthesis and spinning technology, the development and utilization of bio-based fibers are promoted.