Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Upcycling textile derived microplastics waste collected from washer and dryers to carbonaceous products using hydrothermal carbonization

Researchers collected real textile microfiber waste from washing machine and dryer microfilters and converted it to carbon materials using hydrothermal carbonization at different temperatures and durations. The resulting carbonaceous products showed promising properties as adsorbents and electrode materials, offering a pathway to upcycle laundry-derived microplastic waste into functional materials.

2025 Waste Management 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Charting a path to catalytic upcycling of plastic micro/nano fiber pollution from textiles to produce carbon nanomaterials and turquoise hydrogen

Researchers demonstrated proof-of-concept for catalytic upcycling of polyester and cotton textile-derived microfibers into structured solid carbon products, using a defined fiber feedstock to establish a pathway for converting fiber pollution into value-added carbon materials.

2023 RSC Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of synthetic textile waste using CO2 as a raw material in the catalytic pyrolysis process

Researchers developed a catalytic pyrolysis process using CO2 as a raw material to valorise synthetic textile waste, addressing microplastic release from synthetic fibres as an upstream source reduction strategy. Thermal cracking of waste textiles under CO2 produced syngas and CH4, demonstrating a pathway to convert non-biodegradable synthetic fibre waste into value-added products.

2020 Environmental Pollution 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Spectroscopic Analysis of Microplastic Fibers Released During Laundry Washing Cycle

Researchers analyzed microplastic fibers released from synthetic textiles during laundry washing cycles using FTIR spectroscopy, demonstrating that spectroscopic identification of fiber polymer type is feasible and identifying key fiber release characteristics from different fabric types.

2023 Advanced Engineering Letters 4 citations
Article Tier 2

In Situ Functionalisation and Upcycling of Post‐Consumer Textile Blends into 3D Printable Nanocomposite Filaments

Researchers developed a one-pot chemo-thermo-mechanical process to convert blended post-consumer textile waste directly into 3D-printable nanocomposite filaments without pre-separation, offering a route to upcycle mixed synthetic garments and reduce textile waste.

2024 Advanced Sustainable Systems 4 citations
Article Tier 2

How can we deal with the large amount of microplastics delivered to landfills and released into the environment by fast fashion? A practical valorization approach for mitigating textile fibrous microplastics before affecting the environment.

Researchers proposed a practical valorization approach for managing fibrous microplastics generated by fast fashion textile waste, addressing the challenge of large volumes of textile microplastics entering landfills and the environment through a circular economy framework to intercept fibers before environmental release.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

A new strategy for using lint-microfibers generated from clothes dryer as a sustainable source of renewable energy

This study converted lint microfibers generated by clothes dryers — which are a form of primary microplastic — into energy products through pyrolysis. This approach could both reduce the environmental release of microfibers from laundry and recover useful energy from a waste material that currently enters sewage systems and waterways.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation of high quality carbon nanotubes by catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastics using FeNi-based catalyst

Researchers developed a method to produce high-quality carbon nanotubes from waste polyethylene plastics using iron-nickel catalysts. The study found that varying the catalyst composition affected nanotube quality and yield, demonstrating a promising approach for converting plastic waste into valuable nanomaterials rather than allowing it to persist as pollution.

2024 Waste Management 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel Treatment to Immobilize and Use Textiles Microfibers Retained in Polymeric Filters through Their Incorporation in Composite Materials

Researchers developed a novel method to immobilize textile microfibers captured in polymeric washing machine filters by incorporating them into composite polymer matrices, transforming a waste microplastic stream into a potentially reusable construction or industrial material rather than releasing it to the environment.

2022 Polymers 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Waste Surgical Masks as Precursors of Activated Carbon: A Circular Economy Approach to Mitigate the Impact of Microplastics and Emerging Dye Contaminants

Waste surgical masks were converted into activated carbon materials through pyrolysis, demonstrating a circular approach for handling the surge in disposable mask waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Repurposing mask waste as functional carbon avoids its fragmentation into microplastics in the environment.

2025 Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Controlled carbonization of microplastics loaded nano zero-valent iron for catalytic degradation of tetracycline

Researchers converted microplastics into a porous carbon support for nano zero-valent iron catalyst using controlled molten salt carbonization, increasing carbon yield from 18% to 52% and surface area from 404 to 602 square meters per gram. The resulting catalyst degraded 82% of tetracycline within 10 minutes via hydroxyl radical generation and also effectively degraded other persistent organic pollutants.

2022 Chemosphere 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of textile waste: non-woven structures and composites

This review explores how textile waste -- millions of tons discarded annually -- contributes to pollution in air, water, and soil, even when disposed of in landfills. The paper discusses ways to repurpose waste textiles from materials like polyester and nylon into useful products for construction, insulation, and agriculture. This is relevant to microplastic concerns because synthetic textiles are one of the largest sources of microfiber pollution, and finding ways to recycle them reduces the microplastics released into the environment.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of PET Microfibers from Simulated Wastewater Using Magnetic Nano-Ferric-Loaded Biochar: High Adsorption and Regeneration Performance

A magnetic nano-iron-oxide-loaded biochar adsorbent achieved over 99% removal of PET microfibers from simulated wastewater and showed strong regeneration performance over multiple cycles, offering a practical and recyclable treatment solution for textile microfiber pollution.

2025 Nanomaterials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Textile Microplastics in Wastewater: A Critical Review of Removal and Carbonization Technologies

This review study summarizes research on tiny plastic particles from clothes that get released when we wash synthetic fabrics like polyester, which then end up in our water systems. While water treatment plants can remove many of these microplastics, large amounts still build up in sewage, potentially contaminating our environment and food chain over time. Scientists are developing new ways to not only remove these plastic particles but also convert them into useful materials that can help clean polluted water.

2026 C – Journal of Carbon Research
Article Tier 2

Quantification of textile microfibers from laundry wastewater using the Rock-Eval® device: Difference between natural and synthetic microfiber origin

The Rock-Eval® pyrolysis device was used to quantify textile microfibers from laundry wastewater, successfully distinguishing natural cotton and linen fibers from synthetic polyester and nylon microfibers through specific linear regression parameters.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microfiber and surfactants from household laundry washing effluents by powdered activated carbon: kinetics and isotherm studies

Researchers tested powdered activated carbon as a way to remove microfibers and surfactants from household laundry wastewater. They found that activated carbon effectively adsorbed both contaminants, with the process following predictable chemical patterns. The study suggests that activated carbon filtration could be a practical solution for reducing the microfiber and chemical pollution that laundry discharge contributes to waterways.

2023 Water Science & Technology 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Upcycling Waste Plastics into Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites via NiCo2O4 Catalytic Pyrolysis

Researchers used catalytic pyrolysis — heating plastic waste with metal catalysts — to convert post-consumer plastics into carbon nanotube composites, a high-value industrial material. Bimetallic nickel-cobalt catalysts produced the best results. This approach could help valorize plastic waste while reducing the volumes that end up in the environment as microplastic pollution.

2021 Catalysts 21 citations
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

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

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

Carbon nanotubes production from real-world waste plastics and the pyrolysis behaviour

Researchers produced carbon nanotubes from real-world waste plastics through pyrolysis, characterizing the thermal decomposition behavior of mixed plastic waste and demonstrating a valuable upcycling pathway for plastic pollution.

2023 Waste Management 49 citations
Article Tier 2

A Practical Valorization Approach for Mitigating Textile Fibrous Microplastics in the Environment: Collection of Textile-Processing Waste Microfibers and Direct Reuse in Green Thermal-Insulating and Mechanical-Performing Composite Construction Materials

Researchers proposed and demonstrated the direct collection and reuse of textile finishing waste microfibers as reinforcement in thermally insulating composite construction materials, diverting a significant fraction of Italy's estimated 5000 tonnes per year of textile processing waste fibers from environmental release. The composite materials met performance benchmarks for construction applications, offering both environmental and economic benefits.

2022 Microplastics 13 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Innovative Textile Recycling and Upcycling Technologies for Circular Fashion: Reducing Landfill Waste and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability

This systematic review of 95 studies found that circular textile recycling technologies can divert a median of 74% of textile waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38-49% compared to virgin fiber production. Advanced sorting infrastructure using NIR or FTIR spectroscopy proved decisive, boosting yields by 12-18% in mechanical recycling lines. These findings are relevant to microplastic pollution because textile fiber recycling reduces the volume of synthetic fabrics that shed microplastic fibers during use and disposal.

2022 American Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 1 citations