Characteristics of biodegradable textiles used in environmental engineering: A comprehensive review

Geotextiles have become a popular solution in environmental engineering. They may be manufactured from synthetic or biodegradable materials. The main functions of geotextiles are: separation, filtration, drainage, sealing, anti-erosion protection, and improving plant vegetation conditions. The synthetic ones are produced mainly from fossil fuels. One of the ways to reduce the consumption of energy from non-renewable sources and to limit environmental pollution is to replace petrochemical materials with natural products. Unfortunately, only 2% of the geosynthetics are produced from renewable resources. However, it is estimated that natural fibers and biopolymers might successfully replace synthetic materials even in 50% of all applications. A wide range of geotextiles produced from such natural fibers as jute, flax, coconut fiber, palm fiber, sisal, nettle, straw, cotton, and wool are currently available on the market but they are not widely used in environmental engineering. The paper presents the current state of knowledge and technological developments in their production and application. The study also points to the existing deficiencies and opportunities in the development of the manufacturing technology of natural fibers and biodegradable polymers. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).