A BOLTON Institute project is investigating the commercial potential for distilling alcohol from textile factory effluent.

But drinkers need not worry - it would be used in industrial solvents.

The Institute has received £7,500 backing from the Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust.

Dr Mike Hall, senior lecturer in textiles, said: "Textile finishing factories produce effluent which is high in starch degradation products and requires expensive treatment before it can be discharged.

"Using basically the same process which the Irish poteen makers used to manufacture spirits from the starch in potatoes, we can obtain alcohol from the starch in textile finishing waste."

The project is in its experimental stage at present, but if it is shown to be commercially feasible, it is said to offer considerable opportunities.

Transforming the starch into alcohol would cut treatment costs for finishing mills and provide a saleable product.

"Jokingly our colleagues have accused us of manufacturing booze," Dr Hall said.

"In fact, we see a market for alcohol produced in this way as an ingredient in industrial solvents."

The Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust, which is financing the project, was set up after the last war to honour industry personnel killed in the conflict.

Instead of a traditional war memorial, the trustees created a fund to assist textile industry studies and provide prizes for students.

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