Adhesive resin decomposition-based material separation and decolorization of acid dyes on nylon for recycling of waste wetsuits

Growing environmental concerns have highlighted the challenge of recycling discarded wetsuits, which consist of tightly bonded polychloroprene and nylon. Their complex structure and thermosetting adhesives hinder recycling by making separation without damage difficult. This study aims to develop an effective method for separating polychloroprene and nylon from wetsuits under mild conditions. The process began with material swelling in benzene, followed by adhesive decomposition using sodium hydroxide and mercaptoethanol. Then, an ethanol–sodium hydroxide decolorization method achieved about 97% dye removal in 10 min. Tensile strength analysis revealed that the alkaline treatment did not significantly compromise the mechanical integrity of the nylon.