We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Design of Chitosan-Polyester Composites to Reduce Particulate Contamination of Washing Wastewater
Summary
Researchers modified polyester fabrics with chitosan biopolymer coatings to reduce the amount of microplastic fibers shed during washing. Chitosan-treated fabrics released significantly fewer fiber particles, offering a practical approach to reducing microplastic pollution from laundry — a major source of aquatic microfiber contamination.
In this research, the modification of different polyester structures (fabrics and knits) by the biopolymer chitosan was studied to evaluate the effects of the polyester structure and treatments on the particulate pollution of wastewater. The pristine polyester and the chitosan-polyester fabric and polyester knit composites were washed cyclically with standard ECE A detergent at 60 °C. The laser diffraction technique was used to characterize the particle size of the washing wastewaters from the 1–5, 6–10 and 1–10 wash cycles. In addition, the total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were also determined, according to standard procedures. The obtained results show the influence of the polyester fabrics and polyester knit structures and chitosan-polyester composites on the particle size distribution (PSD) in the washing wastewater. Differences in the values of the characteristic parameters, especially the span value and shape factor (k) of the individual curves, are visible, indicating the release of particles during the washing process. The experimental results show that the laser diffraction technique is suitable for characterizing the particle dimensions of the washing wastewater for different pristine polyester structures and chitosan-polyester composites. Modification with chitosan has been shown to provide potential protection against the release of microplastic particles into the environment.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Impact of Chitosan Pretreatment to Reduce Microfibers Released From Synthetic Garments During Laundering
Researchers found that pre-treating synthetic garments with chitosan—a natural biopolymer—before washing significantly reduced the number of microfibers released during laundering. Since washing synthetic clothes is one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution in waterways, chitosan treatment could be a practical way to reduce this contamination at the source.
Impact of Chitosan Pretreatment to Reduce Microfibers Released from Synthetic Garments during Laundering
This study tested whether treating synthetic garments with a chitosan (natural shellfish-derived polymer) coating before washing could reduce the number of microfibers released into wastewater. Chitosan pretreatment significantly reduced microfiber shedding from both polyester and nylon fabrics. This approach offers a practical, scalable way to reduce microfiber pollution at the source — the washing of synthetic textiles — which is one of the largest contributors to microplastic contamination in waterways.
Microplastics in Wastewater by Washing Polyester Fabrics
Researchers investigated microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing, characterizing the quantity and types of microplastics generated and their potential pathway into wastewater systems as a significant source of environmental microplastic pollution.
Reducing microplastic fiber shedding from hand-washed polyester
Researchers investigated microplastic fiber shedding from hand-washed polyester fabric, addressing a gap since most prior studies focused on machine laundering despite the majority of global garment washing being done by hand. They tested coating-based mitigation strategies and found effective approaches for reducing fiber release during hand washing. The study demonstrates that hand-washing conditions and mitigation techniques deserve specific attention in efforts to reduce textile-derived microplastic pollution.
Influence of Cross-Linkers on the Wash Resistance of Chitosan-Functionalized Polyester Fabrics
Researchers evaluated how different cross-linkers affect the wash resistance of chitosan-functionalized polyester textiles, finding that cross-linker chemistry determines how well the antimicrobial chitosan coating withstands repeated laundering.