Enzymatic saccharification coupling with polyester recovery from cotton-based waste textiles by phosphoric acid pretreatment

► H3PO4 pretreatment for waste textiles was applied for sugar and polyester recovery. ► H3PO4 concentration, temperature, time, ratio of textiles: H3PO4 were investigated. ► 100% polyester was recovered by enhancing H3PO4 concentration, time and temperature. ► Maximum of 79.2% sugar recovery can be achieved by enzymatic saccharification. ► The process was technically feasible and potentially profitable to recover polyester and sugar.