es6b03045_si_001.pdf (7.59 MB)
Microfiber Masses Recovered from Conventional Machine Washing of New or Aged Garments
journal contribution
posted on 2016-09-30, 00:00 authored by Niko L. Hartline, Nicholas
J. Bruce, Stephanie N. Karba, Elizabeth O. Ruff, Shreya
U. Sonar, Patricia A. HoldenSynthetic textiles
can shed numerous microfibers during conventional
washing, but evaluating environmental consequences as well as source-control
strategies requires understanding mass releases. Polyester apparel
accounts for a large proportion of the polyester market, and synthetic
jackets represent the broadest range in apparel construction, allowing
for potential changes in manufacturing as a mitigation measure to
reduce microfiber release during laundering. Here, detergent-free
washing experiments were conducted and replicated in both front- and
top-load conventional home machines for five new and mechanically
aged jackets or sweaters: four from one name-brand clothing manufacturer
(three majority polyester fleece, and one nylon shell with nonwoven
polyester insulation) and one off-brand (100% polyester fleece). Wash
water was filtered to recover two size fractions (>333 μm
and
between 20 and 333 μm); filters were then imaged, and microfiber
masses were calculated. Across all treatments, the recovered microfiber
mass per garment ranged from approximately 0 to 2 g, or exceeding
0.3% of the unwashed garment mass. Microfiber masses from top-load
machines were approximately 7 times those from front-load machines;
garments mechanically aged via a 24 h continuous wash had increased
mass release under the same wash protocol as new garments. When published
wastewater treatment plant influent characterization and microfiber
removal studies are considered, washing synthetic jackets or sweaters
as per this study would account for most microfibers entering the
environment.
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Microfiber massesmitigation measuremicrofiber masses2 g7 timesapparel constructionunderstanding mass releasesfront-load machinesPolyester apparel accountssource-control strategiesnylon shellhome machinesmass releaseMicrofiber Masses RecoveredAged GarmentsConventional Machine Washinggarment massnonwoven polyester insulationmicrofiber removal studiesWash waterclothing manufacturerwash protocolpolyester marketmicrofiber releasemicrofiber massmajority polyester fleece24 htop-load machineswastewater treatment plant
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