Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 10 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 Water 12 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

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.

2025 Scientific Reports 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Polymers
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

Modified polyamide fibers with low surface friction coefficient to reduce microplastics emission during domestic laundry

Researchers developed a modified polyamide fiber that sheds 60% fewer microplastic particles during washing by incorporating a silicone-based compound that lowers surface friction. The fibers maintained good physical properties including strength and water resistance, making them practical for textile manufacturing. The study offers a promising engineering approach to reducing one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution entering waterways from household laundry.

2023 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

How Low-Friction Coatings Affect Microplastic Fiber Release When Laundering Coated and Uncoated Textiles Together

Researchers tested whether low-friction silicone coatings on polyester fabrics could reduce microplastic fiber release during laundering, including when coated and uncoated fabrics are washed together. They found that the coating reduced overall fiber release by up to 37%, with the effect depending on the orientation of coated versus uncoated fabrics. The study suggests that low-friction textile finishes could be a practical strategy for reducing microplastic pollution from laundry.

2026 ACS Environmental Au
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

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

Liquidlike, Low‐Friction Polymer Brushes for Microfibre Release Prevention from Textiles

Researchers developed a polymer brush coating strategy that practically eliminates microfiber release from synthetic textiles during washing. The study demonstrates that applying liquid-like, low-friction coatings to fibers significantly reduces the mechanical abrasion that causes millions of microplastic fibers to shed into wastewater.

2024 Small 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Harnessing the power of amphoterically modified Chitosan coagulants for enhanced Polyester microplastic fibre removal from water

Amphoterically modified chitosan was used as a coagulant aid to capture microplastics from water, leveraging the biopolymer's charge-switching ability to bind particles across a range of pH conditions. Chitosan-based capture materials are attractive because chitosan is biodegradable and derived from renewable sources.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Designing out microplastic pollution released from textiles and apparel during laundering

This study explored source-directed design and manufacturing interventions to reduce microplastic fiber release from synthetic textiles during washing, using standardized wash tests to quantify shedding from fabric surfaces and edges. Structural fabric design modifications were identified as effective strategies to reduce microplastic fiber shedding at the point of manufacture.

2024 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Pectin based finishing to mitigate the impact of microplastics released by polyamide fabrics

Researchers developed a pectin-based finishing treatment for polyamide fabrics that reduced microfibre shedding during washing by approximately 90%, using glycidyl methacrylate-modified pectin grafted directly onto the fabric surface. Post-wash analysis confirmed the treated fabrics showed promising resistance to repeated washing cycles.

2018 Carbohydrate Polymers 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of shedding propensity of polyesterfabrics in the washing process

Researchers quantified microplastic shedding from three polyester fabric types — woven, knitted, and double-faced plush — under standardized washing conditions at 60°C using gravimetric analysis and physicochemical characterization of wastewater over 5- and 10-cycle wash experiments. Results showed fabric structure influences shedding propensity, and that the majority of fragments are released during the first washing cycles.

2024 The holistic approach to environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments from washing synthetic textiles

Washing synthetic textiles releases microplastic fibers into wastewater, and this study reviewed the scale of the problem and explored strategies to reduce emissions at the washing machine, garment design, and wastewater treatment levels. Textile laundering is considered one of the largest sources of microplastic fiber pollution reaching aquatic environments.

2021 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Blended with Chitosan: A Potential Single-Use Material

This study combined waste PET plastic with chitosan biopolymer to fabricate electrospun fibers designed as water-soluble single-use textile materials, demonstrating a way to repurpose plastic waste into a product that disperses safely in sewerage systems without contributing to persistent microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics Released Based on Polyester Fabric Construction during Washing and Drying

Researchers characterized microplastic fiber release from polyester fabrics during washing and drying, finding that fabric construction type significantly influences fiber shedding rates, with looser fabric structures releasing substantially more microplastic fibers per wash cycle.

2021 Polymers 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Improvement of a microfiber filter for domestic washing machines

Researchers improved a microfiber filter designed for domestic washing machines to more effectively capture synthetic microfibers and microplastics released during laundry cycles, testing filter performance across different fabric types and washing conditions. The enhanced filter design achieved higher capture rates of microfibers compared to existing solutions, representing a practical household-level intervention to reduce microplastic emissions to wastewater.

2022 Bioinspiration & Biomimetics 12 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

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

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

Reducing Microplastic Fiber Fragment Emissions from Woven Fabrics During Laundering by Controlling Weaving Process Parameters: A Contribution to Sustainable Textile Ecodesign

Scientists found that the way polyester fabrics are woven affects how many tiny plastic fibers wash out in the laundry and end up in our water supply. By changing specific weaving techniques—like using fewer threads per inch and certain weave patterns—manufacturers could reduce these microplastic releases by up to 70%. This matters because these microscopic plastic fragments can end up in our drinking water and food chain, potentially affecting human health.

2026 Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Utilization of chitosan as a natural coagulant for polyethylene microplastic removal

Scientists tested chitosan, a natural material derived from shellfish, as an eco-friendly way to remove polyethylene microplastics from water. Under the best conditions (pH 6.0 with 100 mg/L of chitosan), the treatment removed 81.5% of microplastics, offering a promising and environmentally safe approach to cleaning microplastic-contaminated water.

2025 Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment 12 citations