Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

TextileRecycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-ModifiedFiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber (MPF) release during chemical recycling of polyester/cotton-blended textiles, finding that the dye removal stage emitted the highest MPF count at nearly 10,055 MPFs per gram, while alkaline hydrolysis reduced MPF release by 87.55% compared to acid hydrolysis during the treatment stage.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

TextileRecycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-ModifiedFiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber (MPF) release during chemical recycling of polyester/cotton-blended textiles, finding that the dye removal stage emitted the highest MPF count at nearly 10,055 MPFs per gram, while alkaline hydrolysis reduced MPF release by 87.55% compared to acid hydrolysis during the treatment stage.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Textile Recycling’s Hidden Problem: Surface-Modified Fiber Fragments Emitted at Every Stage

Researchers investigated microplastic fiber release during chemical recycling of polyester-cotton blended textiles and found that the dye removal stage generated the highest fiber counts, averaging around 10,055 fibers per gram of textile waste. Alkaline hydrolysis reduced fiber emissions during the treatment stage by nearly 88% compared to acid hydrolysis. The study highlights that textile recycling processes, while essential for sustainability, can themselves be a significant source of microplastic fiber pollution.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanically Recycled Textiles: A Source of Microplastic Fiber Emissions

Mechanically recycled polyester textiles shed significantly more microplastic fibers than virgin polyester during both wear and washing, and the problem worsens with each recycling cycle. This is an important finding because it shows that increasing textile recycling rates, while beneficial for reducing waste, may inadvertently increase microplastic fiber pollution in waterways.

2026 Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

The Effect of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Synthetic Fabrics on the Release of Microplastics during Washing and Drying

Researchers investigated how the physical and chemical properties of synthetic fabrics influence microplastic fiber release during washing and drying, finding that fabric construction, fiber type, and surface treatment are key determinants of the quantity and characteristics of released microplastic particles.

2022 Polymers 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Fibrous Microplastics Release from Textile Production Phases: A Brief Review of Current Challenges and Applied Research Directions

This review examines how microplastic fibers are shed during various stages of textile production, from spinning and weaving to dyeing and finishing. Researchers found that fibrous microplastics account for roughly half to 70% of all microplastics found in global wastewater, primarily originating from synthetic fabric manufacturing and household laundering. The study identifies gaps in current knowledge and explores recycling technologies and regulatory approaches that could help reduce textile microplastic pollution.

2025 Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Washing Process on the Release of Microplastics from Polyester Fabrics

Researchers conducted an analytical evaluation of microplastic and fiber release from tri-color pile polyester fabrics during washing with detergent, employing multiple characterization methods on the fabric, wastewater, and filter cake before and after cryogenization to assess defragmentation and fiber shedding.

2025 Separations
Article Tier 2

A review on microplastic emission from textile materials and its reduction techniques

Researchers reviewed how synthetic textile fibers — tiny plastic threads released from clothes during washing, drying, and wearing — are a major source of microplastic pollution, entering waterways and food chains through seafood, salt, and drinking water. They identify fabric type, detergent, and washing conditions as key factors affecting fiber release, and propose textile finishing and regulatory strategies to reduce emissions.

2022 Polymer Degradation and Stability 291 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Materials 139 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastics release from polyester fabrics: The impact of different washing conditions

Researchers assessed microplastic fiber release from polyester and polyamide fabrics during simulated washing, finding that fabric construction, fiber type, and washing conditions all influenced the quantity of fibers released. The study provides data to help quantify the contribution of laundry to microplastic emissions in wastewater.

2020 Environmental Pollution 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microfibers released from chemically modified polyester fabrics — A step towards mitigation

This study characterized microfibers released from chemically modified polyester fabrics during abrasion, finding that surface treatments altered fiber release rates and morphology. The results inform strategies to reduce microfiber pollution from synthetic textiles at the manufacturing and use stages.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Release from Domestic Washing

Researchers measured microfiber release from domestic washing of textile materials across five washing cycles, finding that the amount of microplastic fiber shed varied significantly with washing conditions and fiber type, contributing to aquatic microplastic pollution.

2021 European Journal of Science and Technology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecodesign of polyester fabrics to limit the release of microplastic fibre fragments during the first wash

Researchers investigated how textile production parameters affect the release of microplastic fibre fragments from polyester fabrics during the first wash, aiming to develop ecodesign strategies for the textile industry which is responsible for 35% of microplastics released into oceans.

2025 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

Quantification and morphological characterization of microfibers emitted from textile washing

Textile microfibers released during washing machine cycles were quantified and characterized, with the study finding that fiber type, fabric construction, and wash conditions all influenced emission quantities. The results confirm textile washing as a significant and ongoing source of microplastic fiber pollution in wastewater.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Differences in the release of microplastic fibers and fibrils from virgin and recycled polyester textiles

Researchers compared microplastic fiber and fibril release from virgin versus mechanically recycled polyester textiles during abrasion testing. They analyzed four pairs of commercially available textiles that were identical except for the type of polyester used. The findings provide important data for understanding whether the growing use of recycled polyester in clothing changes the amount or character of microplastic shedding during wear.

2024 Resources Conservation and Recycling 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection and Analysis of Microfibers and Microplastics in Wastewater from a Textile Company

Researchers analyzed microfiber and microplastic levels in wastewater from a textile company, finding that the on-site treatment plant removed only 38–65% of microfibers, meaning up to 62% — including acrylic, polyester, and polyamide particles — can escape into receiving waterways.

2022 Microplastics 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of different microplastic fibres discharged from textiles in machine wash and tumble drying

Researchers quantified synthetic microplastic fibre emissions from five sequential machine washes and tumble dryings of synthetic fabrics, finding that fibre release decreased with successive washes and that two commercial in-machine fibre traps varied substantially in their collection efficiency, with implications for reducing domestic microplastic emissions.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 105 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyester Textiles as a Source of Microplastics from Households: A Mechanistic Study to Understand Microfiber Release During Washing

Researchers conducted a mechanistic study of microplastic fiber shedding from polyester textiles in household washing machines, identifying wash temperature, spin speed, and detergent type as key variables affecting fiber release rates.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 744 citations
Article Tier 2

Decoding microplastic shedding from cotton/polyester blends: An analysis through fiber identification

Researchers developed a chemical separation method to accurately quantify polyester shedding from cotton/polyester blend fabrics, distinguishing polyester from natural fiber microplastics. Testing various fabric structures showed that polyester staple fibers in blends shed substantially during use, providing more realistic microplastic estimates for everyday clothing and bedding.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Disperse dyes, temperature and yarn parametre's effect on microfibre shedding of polyester spun yarn

Researchers quantified microfiber shedding from polyester yarn at six industrial dyeing factories and found that high-temperature dyeing of dark, coarser yarns released the most fibers, with conventional effluent treatment plants removing only 76% of microplastic fibers — leaving a substantial residual discharged to waterways.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution characteristics and fate of microfibers in the wastewater from textile dyeing wastewater treatment plant

Researchers found that a textile industry wastewater treatment plant achieved 95.1% removal of microfibers, reducing concentrations from 334.1 items/litre in influent to 16.3 items/litre in final effluent, yet still released 4.89 x 10^8 microfibers into receiving waters daily due to the enormous treatment volume.

2018 Water Science & Technology 115 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic emissions in textile wet processing: Progress, challenges, and mitigation strategies

This review examines how textile wet processing, including dyeing and finishing operations, contributes to microplastic emissions that are more substantial in volume and chemically diverse than those from domestic laundry. Researchers found that mechanical forces, water, and chemical treatments during industrial processing release significant quantities of synthetic microfibers into wastewater. The study explores mitigation strategies including bioengineered materials, improved textile design, surface coatings, and enhanced filtration technologies.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-conception d'étoffes en polyester pour limiter le relargage de fragments de fibres microplastiques lors du premier lavage

Researchers investigated the release of microplastic fibre fragments from polyester textiles during the first machine wash, evaluating how production-stage design choices affect fibre shedding with the goal of developing lower-emission textile manufacturing approaches.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Release of fibrous microplastics from functional polyester garments through household washing

Functional polyester garments released measurable quantities of fibrous microplastics during household washing, with fiber shedding rates influenced by garment type and washing conditions, while German wastewater treatment plants captured a significant but incomplete fraction.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 9 citations