Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Promoting Degradation of Polyamide-Microplastic Fibers Using Hydroxy Radical Generated by Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes

Researchers demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals generated through electrochemical processes can degrade polyamide (nylon) microplastic fibers significantly faster than biological methods — reducing fiber diameter by nearly 14% and toughness by almost 79% within 12 hours. Chemical analysis confirmed that the hydroxyl radicals cleave the amide bonds in nylon, breaking the polymer into shorter compounds. This offers a promising wastewater treatment approach for removing synthetic microfibers released during textile washing, which currently pass through conventional sewage treatment plants largely intact.

2023 Journal of The Electrochemical Society 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of polyester fibre microplastics from wastewater using a UV/H2O2 oxidation process

UV irradiation combined with hydrogen peroxide was evaluated as an advanced oxidation treatment for removing polyester microfibers from laundry wastewater, finding that the process caused measurable mass loss, surface oxidation, and structural degradation of fiber particles. The results demonstrate a potential treatment pathway for microfiber removal at the source before discharge to the environment.

2022 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of textile microplastic fibers from water by photo-Fenton oxidation

A photo-Fenton oxidation process was tested for removing textile-derived microplastic fibers from water, achieving high removal rates under optimized conditions. The study offers a viable advanced treatment option for the challenging problem of fiber microplastics shed from laundry.

2025 Water Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigations into the Reactivity of Microplastics in Water

Researchers investigated how hydroxyl radicals — naturally occurring reactive molecules in water — chemically transform microplastics, finding that radiation-generated radicals can break plastic bonds and alter their surface properties. Understanding microplastic chemical reactivity in water is important for predicting how environmental degradation changes their biological effects.

2021 ValpoScholar (Valparaiso University) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Proceso foto-Fenton como una alternativa en la degradación de microplásticos de poliamida presentes en aguas residuales textiles

Researchers evaluated the photo-Fenton process as an alternative treatment method for degrading polyamide microplastics present in textile wastewater, addressing the challenge of microplastic pollution arising from the textile industry. The study found that photo-Fenton oxidation was effective at breaking down polyamide particles under optimized conditions, offering a potential treatment pathway for microplastic-contaminated industrial effluents.

2022
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

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

Fibras Têxteis Sintéticas E a Liberação De Microplásticos: Uma Revisão

This review synthesizes published research on the release of microplastic fibers from synthetic textiles during domestic laundering, examining the mechanisms, quantities, and environmental fate of fiber shedding into waterways and the resulting risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

2022 MIX Sustentável 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fibres from synthetic textiles: Environmental degradation and additive chemical content

Researchers studied how common synthetic textile fibers — polyester, polyamide, and polyacrylonitrile — degrade in seawater and freshwater under UV light exposure. They found that these fibers release chemical additives as they break down, with polyester and polyamide releasing particularly concerning levels of plastic-related chemicals into the surrounding water.

2020 Environmental Pollution 304 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiochemical Degradation of Plastic Fibers from Synthetic Fabrics and Effect of Natural Organic Matter in Aquatic Environments on Nanoplastics’ Behavior

Researchers studied how laundry conditions affect microfiber release from synthetic fabrics and how UV irradiation and pH alter fabric degradation, then examined how natural organic matter (NOM) influences nanoplastic behavior in water. They found that degradation conditions significantly changed fiber release rates and that NOM modified nanoplastic aggregation and stability.

2025 OpenSIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale)
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

Microfibres from Textile Industry Effluents

Researchers reviewed the fate of microfibres released from textile industry effluents, finding that conventional wastewater treatment is insufficient to fully remove fibres, which then enter receiving waterways and contribute to environmental microplastic loads.

2024
Article Tier 2

Transformation of polyester fibre microplastics by sulfate based advanced oxidation processes

Researchers investigated how sulfate-based advanced oxidation processes break down polyester microplastic fibers using light, heat, and ultrasound activation of persulfate. They found that while these treatments caused varying degrees of mass loss and surface degradation, incomplete degradation produced smaller fragments with altered surface chemistry. The study highlights the importance of understanding how wastewater treatment processes may transform rather than fully eliminate microplastics.

2024 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic Degradation of Polyamide 66; Evaluating the Feasibility of Photocatalysis as a Microfibre-Targeting Technology

Researchers evaluated photocatalysis using UV light and titanium dioxide as a treatment technology targeting polyamide 66 microfibres in wastewater, finding measurable degradation evidenced by mass loss, changes in carbonyl index, and morphological alteration, suggesting photocatalysis as a candidate microfibre-removal technology for wastewater treatment plants.

2020 Water 71 citations
Article Tier 2

In-situ electrochemical oxidation: a revolutionary approach to degrading synthetic microfibers in laundry effluent

Researchers developed an in-situ electrochemical oxidation technique to degrade synthetic microfibers directly from washing machine effluent, eliminating the need for consumable mechanical filters that generate secondary waste. The method achieved effective microfiber degradation at the source without producing additional solid waste streams.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Synthetic Textiles and Microplastics

This review examines how synthetic textiles shed microfibers during washing and drying, covering the mechanisms of release, the environmental fate of microfibers in aquatic systems, and strategies for reducing microplastic pollution from the fashion and textile industry.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastics from textile origin – emission and reduction measures

This paper reviews the emission of fibrous microplastics from synthetic textiles during washing and their pathway through wastewater treatment plants into aquatic environments. It also summarizes available reduction measures such as laundry filters and fiber-releasing fabric design modifications.

2021 Green Chemistry 78 citations
Article Tier 2

In-situ electrochemical oxidation: a revolutionary approach to degrading synthetic microfibers in laundry effluent

Researchers developed an in-situ electrochemical oxidation technique for degrading synthetic microfibers from washing machine effluent, offering an alternative to conventional mechanical filters that require periodic disposal. The method demonstrated effective degradation of microfibers at the source without generating secondary waste.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Exploring the environmental impact of textile polymer photodegradation through a multianalytical approach

Researchers used a multi-analytical approach to study how photodegradation of textile polymers generates microfibers and other plastic fragments with potential ecotoxicological impacts. The study characterized degradation products and their effects on aquatic organisms, linking polymer weathering to broader environmental harm.

2025 BOA (University of Milano-Bicocca)
Article Tier 2

Remediation technology of microfibers from washing machine effuents

Researchers developed a treatment method combining Fenton oxidation and electro-sorption to remove polyester microfibers from washing machine wastewater. Washing synthetic clothing is a major source of microplastic fiber pollution, and effective wastewater treatment at the machine level could significantly reduce this pathway into aquatic environments.

2023
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

Environmental Impact of Textile Materials: Challenges in Fiber–Dye Chemistry and Implication of Microbial Biodegradation

This review examines how the textile industry contributes to environmental pollution through both chemical dye waste and microplastic fiber release. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon shed non-biodegradable microfibers during manufacturing and washing, while the dyeing process generates contaminated wastewater. The paper highlights microbial biodegradation as a promising and cost-effective approach to breaking down both textile waste and the microplastics it produces.

2025 Polymers 33 citations
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

Quantifying shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles; a source of microplastics released into the environment

Researchers quantified the shedding of synthetic fibers from textiles during simulated washing, finding that fabric type, age, and wash conditions significantly affected fiber release, and establishing a quantitative basis for estimating textile-derived microplastic inputs.

2017 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 590 citations