EWAT group also supports the development of other environmental projects related with water pollution. This time, Sai Tejaswi Gudideni, Tsang Xian Le, Wayne, Muhammad Ismail B Sahuan and Tan Rui Yang Nicholas joined our research group to develop their project of EG3301R, “Sustainable Cities”.

According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, rivalling that of energy and food productions. Around 93 billion cubic metres of water is used annually, where cotton is the major culprit, requiring 20,000 litres of water to grow just one kilogram. With the textile industry being so polluting in different ways, it reveals the dire need for innovation and research into more sustainable means to produce fibres. In view of the above, they developed a semi-synthetic cellulosic fibre that is made from the leftover waste of sugarcane, known as sugarcane bagasse. The synthesis of their Twincel fibre produced from eco-friendly materials aims to reduce the effects of conventionally-spun fibres on the environment.

Fibre synthesis process from sugarcane bagasse.