The Pyongyang Times reporter Chae Hyang Ok interviewed Pak Yong Jun, director of the Textile Research Institute of the Ministry of Light Industry, and Ju Chol Jun, section chief of the institute, over the technique to use scrap plastic bottles as a textile raw material.
I heard that the institute has rounded off the technical preparations for producing Tetron fibre by recycling used plastic bottles.
Pak Yong Jun: That’s right. Most of plastic bottles of drinks and cooking oil that are used in everyday life are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. This resin is thermoplastic resin obtained in the process of petroleum processing. When the resin is spun, it turns into polyester fibre (Tetron fibre) and when it undergoes injection moulding, it becomes a plastic bottle.
Therefore, if we process scrap plastic bottles, we can obtain Tetron fibre through several production processes.
Would you tell me about technological matters arising in its production?
Ju Chol Jun: What is important here is to gain pure PET resin in the washing and separation processes. Because the used plastic bottles contain substances that are not PET component, like stopper or label. Various methods are adopted to separate such substances. The Tetron fibre production process based on scrap plastic bottle is uncomplicated and the actual yield is 98 percent.
What about the profitability and future prospect?
Ju: We can obtain 1 ton of Tetron fibre with 1.02 tons of used plastic bottles. This means that we can make material for a suit with 400 to 800 grams of the bottles.
In our country thousands of tons of used plastic bottles are dumped a year and the recycling of them gives us huge reserve for securing textile raw materials.
Pak: Since we completed the technical preparations for recycling the waste bottles, we are pushing ahead with the establishment of the production process on an industrial scale.
More From Pyongyang Times
The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on April 26 to mark the fifth anniversary of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's
April 30, 2024
The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on April 26 to mark the fifth anniversary of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un's
There is the Uam Seal Reserve in the waters off the east of Uam-dong, Sonbong District, Rason City.The reserve was set to protect
April 30, 2024
There is the Uam Seal Reserve in the waters off the east of Uam-dong, Sonbong District, Rason City.The reserve was set to protect
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a reply message to Bashar Al-Assad,
April 30, 2024
Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a reply message to Bashar Al-Assad,
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India at a press conference on April 25 denounced the US’ “human rights report”
April 30, 2024
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India at a press conference on April 25 denounced the US’ “human rights report”
A spokesman for the Chinese Defence Ministry announced China’s stand to counter the US’ deployment of intermediate-range missiles
April 30, 2024
A spokesman for the Chinese Defence Ministry announced China’s stand to counter the US’ deployment of intermediate-range missiles
A meeting took place on April 28 to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the Kanggye Youth Power Station. Present there were Jon
April 30, 2024
A meeting took place on April 28 to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the Kanggye Youth Power Station. Present there were Jon
A ceremony for moving into new houses took place on April 28 at the Jangsuwon Farm of the Pyongyang Municipal Rural Economy
April 30, 2024
A ceremony for moving into new houses took place on April 28 at the Jangsuwon Farm of the Pyongyang Municipal Rural Economy
The Phyongan provincial area has various kinds of foods including grain, meat, fish, vegetables and edible herbs since it includes
April 30, 2024
The Phyongan provincial area has various kinds of foods including grain, meat, fish, vegetables and edible herbs since it includes
Today the relations of friendship between the DPRK and Russia are further expanding and growing stronger as reciprocal cooperative
April 30, 2024
Today the relations of friendship between the DPRK and Russia are further expanding and growing stronger as reciprocal cooperative
Won Song Rim, department chief of the Architectural Science Institute of Pyongyang University of Architecture has outstanding
April 30, 2024
Won Song Rim, department chief of the Architectural Science Institute of Pyongyang University of Architecture has outstanding
April 30 is the founding anniversary of the Space Association of Korea. The association was established in 2016 when the DPRK
April 30, 2024
April 30 is the founding anniversary of the Space Association of Korea. The association was established in 2016 when the DPRK
There is a student called "telescope girl".She is Kim Yu Gyong, a second-year student of Changjon Junior Middle School in Central
April 30, 2024
There is a student called "telescope girl".She is Kim Yu Gyong, a second-year student of Changjon Junior Middle School in Central
An integrated experimental education hall has been built at Kim Chaek University of Technology, a “pedigree” establishment for
April 29, 2024
An integrated experimental education hall has been built at Kim Chaek University of Technology, a “pedigree” establishment for
Pyongyang University of Architecture is channelling efforts into raising the level of education of multilingual students. True to
April 29, 2024
Pyongyang University of Architecture is channelling efforts into raising the level of education of multilingual students. True to
The delegation of the Agricultural Commission of the DPRK led by Ri Chol Man, vice-premier and concurrently chairman of the
April 29, 2024
The delegation of the Agricultural Commission of the DPRK led by Ri Chol Man, vice-premier and concurrently chairman of the
“Until a few years ago, our factory had been exclusively doing bonded processing of garments. But now we are branching out by
April 29, 2024
“Until a few years ago, our factory had been exclusively doing bonded processing of garments. But now we are branching out by
A spokesman for the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) of the DPRK released the following press statement "US heg
April 29, 2024
A spokesman for the National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA) of the DPRK released the following press statement "US heg
Russian President Putin referred to tasks to clear away the aftermaths of damage by spring floods at a conference on April 24. He
April 29, 2024
Russian President Putin referred to tasks to clear away the aftermaths of damage by spring floods at a conference on April 24. He
A spokesman for the Chinese Defence Ministry criticized the US and Japan for strengthening military conspiracy in a press
April 29, 2024
A spokesman for the Chinese Defence Ministry criticized the US and Japan for strengthening military conspiracy in a press
The Mexican President criticized the US foreign policy at a press conference on April 24. The US State Department recently
April 29, 2024
The Mexican President criticized the US foreign policy at a press conference on April 24. The US State Department recently
More Articles
