Waterborne and Airborne Microfibers Shed from Non-Woven Materials in Water and Air Environments

Abstract Nonwoven products are widely used in various fields, including many disposable products, such as wipes, diapers, and masks. However, microfibers shed from these products in the aquatic and air environment have not been fully described. In the present study, several commercial single-use nonwoven products and a series of meltblown nonwoven materials produced in a pilot plant were investigated regarding their microfiber generation during their use in aquatic and air environments. Microfibers shed in water were studied using a Launder Ometer equipment (1- 65 mg of microfibers per gram material), and microfibers shed in air were evaluated using a dusting testing machine that shakes a piece of the nonwoven back and forth (~0 to 6000 microfibers (4 mg of microfibers) per gram material). The raw materials and bonding technologies applied to the commercial nonwovens affected the microfiber generation both in water and air conditions. Meltblown nonwoven fabrics generated fewer microfibers compared to the other commercial nonwovens studied here, and the manufacturing factors, such as DCD (Die to collector distance) and air flow rate, affected the tendency of microfiber generation. Microfibers of nonwovens shed in water and air environment were compared to selected textile materials and paper tissue materials. The results herein suggest that it is possible to control the tendency of microfiber shedding through the choice of operating parameters during nonwoven manufacturing processes.