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Joint aerobic biodegradation of synthetic and natural textile microfibers and laundry surfactants
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Researchers tested the biodegradation of cotton and polyester microfibers, alone and in combination with common laundry surfactants, to understand how these pollutants interact in aquatic environments. Cotton microfibers were partially biodegradable at about 75% mineralization, while polyester showed no biodegradation. Importantly, the presence of polyester microfibers inhibited surfactant breakdown, and certain combinations delayed cotton degradation, suggesting that real-world mixtures of textile microfibers and detergent chemicals may persist longer in the environment than expected.
Microfibers (MFs) represent one of the most prominent sources of microplastics in aquatic environments, primarily released during textile washing alongside surfactants found in laundry detergents. This study aimed to investigate the biodegradability of natural (cotton) and synthetic (polyester) MFs individually and in combination with two surfactants: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, anionic) and polyoxyethylene glycerol ester (PGE-OE6, nonionic). Using the OECD 301 F test, the research assessed biodegradation patterns and environmental interactions. Biodegradation profiles have been fitted to a pseudo first-order kinetic model and to a logistic kinetic model. Results showed that cotton MFs were partially biodegradable, achieving a 74.9 % mineralization, while polyester MFs exhibited no biodegradability. Importantly, when combined with surfactants, the biodegradation of SLS was inhibited by polyester MFs, but cotton MFs enhanced SLS mineralization. Conversely, the combination of cotton MFs with PGE-OE slowed the biodegradation of both the surfactant and the MFs, delaying the onset of cotton degradation. However, polyester MFs' biodegradability remained unaffected by either surfactant. These findings emphasize the need for more comprehensive assessments of how MFs and surfactants interact in real-world environmental matrices, as these interactions can influence their persistence and ecological impact. The study highlights the scientific importance of understanding pollutant interactions to develop more effective environmental monitoring and mitigation strategies.
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Physiochemical Degradation of Plastic Fibers from Synthetic Fabrics and Effect of Natural Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments on Nanoplastics’ Behavior
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Researchers studied how laundry conditions affect microfiber release from synthetic fabrics and how UV irradiation and pH alter fabric degradation, then examined how natural organic matter (NOM) influences nanoplastic behavior in water. They found that degradation conditions significantly changed fiber release rates and that NOM modified nanoplastic aggregation and stability.
Microfibers generated from the laundering of cotton, rayon and polyester based fabrics and their aquatic biodegradation.
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This study measured the number of microfibers released during laundering of cotton, polyester, and rayon fabrics under different temperatures and detergent conditions. All three fiber types shed significant quantities of microfibers, with higher water temperatures increasing shedding — raising concerns about synthetic and natural fiber contributions to aquatic microplastic pollution.
Biodegradation of cotton-polyester textiles to understand fate of natural and synthetic microfibres in soil
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Researchers buried cotton-polyester blended textiles in soil and monitored the differential biodegradation of natural versus synthetic microfibers over time. Cotton fibers degraded within months while polyester fibers persisted across the entire study period with minimal degradation, confirming that synthetic textile fibers accumulate in soil environments as persistent microplastic contaminants.
Aging of textile-based microfibers in both air and water environments
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Researchers aged textile-based microfibers under controlled air and water environments over extended periods, characterizing changes in surface chemistry, mechanical properties, and morphology, finding that degradation pathways differed substantially between air and aquatic conditions.
A review on the biodegradation of textiles in the environment
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Researchers reviewed how textile composition, production processes, and environmental conditions influence biodegradation rates in natural settings, finding that synthetic fibres persist far longer than cellulosic alternatives and that fragmentation into microfibers during degradation represents an understudied pathway for environmental microplastic release.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.