Growing awareness of hazardous chemicals in consumer textiles has intensified concerns regarding their effects on human health, environmental sustainability, and barriers to textile upcycling and recycling. These chemicals originate from manufacturing, finishing treatments, or plasticizers and adhesives used in graphics, where they can persist in fabrics and bioaccumulate over time. Recent conservation and risk assessments found that these contaminants pose a threat to human health and prevent large-scale textile reclamation. This research investigates supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a sustainable, solvent-free method for removing hazardous chemicals from textiles. With high diffusivity and complete solvent recovery without generating liquid waste, scCO2 offers a promising alternative to conventional extraction techniques. This study focuses on removing three high-priority contaminants: formaldehyde, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) from textiles. Removal efficiency was evaluated across varying concentrations, reaction times, and co-solvent conditions. Gravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to assess mass loss, concentration changes, and chemical signatures in extract. Results show that scCO2 can significantly reduce formaldehyde levels without damaging fabric appearance or producing solvent waste. By identifying effective processing parameters and demonstrating environmental benefits, this research supports efforts to create methods for reclaiming contaminated textiles and more sustainable use.
