Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Evaluation of MiniPlast Filters for Microplastic Removal from Laundry Wastewater

Researchers evaluated MiniPlast in-washing machine filters for capturing synthetic microfibers released during laundry cycles, finding that the filters significantly reduced microplastic emissions in wastewater and could serve as a practical household intervention for reducing microfiber pollution.

2025 Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management)
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Filtering Systems to Reduce Microfiber Emissions from Textiles during Household Laundering

This study evaluated sustainable filtration systems for capturing microfibers released from synthetic textiles during household washing, assessing their efficiency in reducing the entry of these microplastic fibers into wastewater.

2023 Polymers 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Capturing microfibers – marketed technologies reduce microfiber emissions from washing machines

Researchers tested three commercially available microfiber capture devices installed in washing machines and found that they significantly reduced the number and mass of microfibers released in laundry effluent. The results support the potential of in-machine filtration as a practical intervention to reduce microfiber pollution from domestic laundering.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 197 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Efficiency Evaluation of Microplastic Removal Filter for Laundry Machines

Researchers developed a four-stage filter for laundry machines designed to capture microplastics released during washing. Over 50 tests, the filter achieved an average microplastic removal rate of 98.5%, along with 92% removal of chemical oxygen demand. The most common microplastics in laundry wastewater were polyethylene (57%), followed by PET and nylon, highlighting both the scale of laundry-related microplastic pollution and the effectiveness of filtration solutions.

2025 Water 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Pore-size and polymer affect the ability of filters for washing-machines to reduce domestic emissions of fibres to sewage

This study tested whether washing machine filters could meaningfully reduce the emission of synthetic textile fibers into sewage. Results showed filter effectiveness varied significantly by pore size and fiber type, and current consumer filters did not eliminate fiber emissions, suggesting they are insufficient as a standalone solution for microplastic pollution from laundry.

2020 PLoS ONE 17 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

Inquinamento da microplastiche: implementazione di un metodo per la riduzione delle emissioni dalle lavatrici = Microplastics pollution: development of a method for the reduction of emissions from washing machines

This Italian thesis study developed methods to reduce microplastic fiber emissions from washing machines, testing various filter approaches. Since synthetic textile washing is one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution entering wastewater, reducing emissions at the washing machine level could significantly decrease the amount of microplastics reaching waterways.

2021
Article Tier 2

The Effect Of Top-Loading Washing Operational Setting On Microplastic Fibers Released From Cloth During The Washing Process And Filtered By Filter Cloth

Researchers investigated the effects of washing machine spin speed, operation time, and repeated wash cycles on microplastic fiber release from textiles in a top-loading machine, evaluating how washing operational settings influence the amount of microplastics captured by filter cloth before reaching wastewater treatment.

2024 Asian Journal of Engineering Social and Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient Filtration Systems for Microplastic Elimination in Wastewater

Synthetic microfibers and microplastic particles released during industrial laundry processes are a significant but under-addressed source of water pollution. This study designed a three-stage textile cascade filter system capable of capturing microplastic particles down to 1.5 micrometers from laundry wastewater, achieving high removal efficiency using progressively finer polypropylene filter media. The approach offers a practical engineering solution for reducing microplastic discharge from commercial laundries before it reaches waterways.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling microfiber emissions: A comprehensive analysis of household washing activities and mitigation measures

Researchers measured microfiber release from real household washing machines across different wash programs and found that machine type, spin speed, and cycle duration all significantly affect how many synthetic fabric fibers — a major source of microplastic pollution — escape into wastewater. They identified optimal washing conditions (higher spin speed, longer cycle) that can meaningfully reduce microfiber emissions during everyday laundry.

2024 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Release of synthetic microplastic plastic fibres from domestic washing machines: Effects of fabric type and washing conditions

Researchers measured synthetic microfiber release from domestic washing machines in real household conditions, finding that millions of fibers are shed per wash cycle, with fiber release influenced by fabric type and wash parameters.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1556 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating microfiber emissions and point-of-use filtration efficiency in household washing and drying cycles.

Researchers evaluated microfiber generation and discharge from household washing and drying cycles using standardized protocols with polyester fleece garments, testing the effectiveness of three commercial point-of-use filtration systems at reducing microfiber emissions from wash wastewater.

2025 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

A Janus branch filter for washing machines: Simultaneous removal of microplastics and surfactants

Engineers developed a Janus-membrane branch filter for washing machines that simultaneously removes microplastics (capturing 78–89% of dreg by weight) and surfactants from laundry wastewater in a single step. This is a promising household-scale solution to one of the largest sources of microplastic release into waterways, since synthetic textiles shed enormous quantities of plastic fibers with every wash.

2023 Chemosphere 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantity and fate of synthetic microfiber emissions from apparel washing in California and strategies for their reduction

Researchers quantified synthetic microfiber emissions from apparel washing across California, finding laundry to be a major microplastic source, and evaluated strategies including appliance filters and fabric standards to reduce microfiber releases to wastewater systems.

2022 Environmental Pollution 37 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

A Comprehensive Literature Study on Microfibres from Washing Machines

This literature review covers what is known about microfibers shed from textiles during washing, including which fabrics shed most, how filters might help, and where these fibers end up in the environment. Washing machine filters are identified as a promising intervention to reduce this major source of microplastic pollution.

2019 Tenside Surfactants Detergents 41 citations
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

Hydro Cyclonic Separation of Polyester Microfibers from Washing Machine Wastewater

Researchers investigated using a hydro cyclone separator to capture polyester microfibers from washing machine wastewater before they enter sewage treatment, finding it a potentially viable low-energy method to reduce microfiber pollution.

2023
Article Tier 2

Improving of an easy, effective and low-cost method for isolation of microplastic fibers collected in drying machines filters

Researchers improved and validated a low-cost method for isolating microplastic fibers from water samples, addressing methodological gaps in measuring fiber release from clothing in both washing and mechanical drying processes.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

A self-cleaning, bio-inspired high retention filter for a major entry path of microplastics

Researchers designed a washing machine filter inspired by how ram-feeding fish use their gill arches to strain food from water, achieving up to 99.6% retention of microplastic fibers while a built-in self-cleaning mechanism prevents clogging. This bio-inspired filter could significantly reduce the estimated millions of microfibers released into waterways from household laundry each year.

2025 npj Emerging Contaminants
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

Evaluation of microplastic release caused by textile washing processes of synthetic fabrics

This study evaluated microplastic fiber release caused by washing synthetic fabrics, finding that washing processes generate substantial quantities of microfibers and that fabric construction affects release rates, with implications for filtering strategies.

2017 Environmental Pollution 686 citations
Article Tier 2

Washing machine filters to mitigate microplastics release: Citizen science study to estimate microfibers capture potential and assess their social acceptability

Researchers enrolled citizen volunteers to test whether filters installed in home washing machines could capture microfibers released during laundry, finding that filters trapped an average of about 4.6 mg of synthetic microfibers per liter of wash water — but over two-thirds of participants found installation difficult. The study validates filters as a practical microplastic source-control strategy while flagging that ease of installation must improve for widespread adoption.

2024 Environmental Challenges 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The Influence of Textile Type, Textile Weight, and Detergent Dosage on Microfiber Emissions from Top-Loading Washing Machines

Researchers investigated how different textile types, fabric weights, and detergent amounts affect microfiber shedding from top-loading washing machines. The study found that all four tested fabric weave structures released both synthetic and natural microfibers during washing, with textile type and weight being significant factors, contributing to our understanding of how everyday laundry contributes to microplastic pollution.

2024 Toxics 24 citations