Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did older viscose-rayon processes create environmental concerns?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

man-made fibre Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.

Older viscose-rayon manufacturing processes created significant environmental concerns primarily due to the chemical by-products released during production. Specifically, the process involves the use of carbon disulfide, a toxic and highly volatile chemical, which is released into the air during the manufacturing cycle.12

Additionally, the production process generates salt by-products that are released into streams, contributing to water pollution. These environmental impacts have led to a decline in viscose production within many industrial countries and have spurred the development of more sustainable alternatives, such as lyocell. Lyocell is manufactured using a nontoxic amine oxide solvent that is washed from the fibres and recovered for reuse, effectively mitigating the pollution risks associated with traditional viscose methods.12