ABSTRACT
Globally, textile fiber production has exceeded 105 million tons. Predominantly, synthetic fibers, such as polyester, acrylic, and polypropylene, are used in clothing. The amount of synthetic microfibers in clothing increases as a consequence of fast-changing trends in fashion, which causes many people to use clothing less frequently before discarding it. Washing and drying synthetic textiles using washing machines results in the release of synthetic microfibers, which can contaminate the environment. Approximately 700,000 distinct microfibers are discharged in a normal 6-kg-wash-load laundry process.
Synthetic microfibers are thread-like or fiber-like materials less than 5 mm in size found in the environment. The current knowledge regarding the influence of the structure and properties of fabrics, including polymer type, structure, type of yarn, and degree of twist, on synthetic microfiber emission from textiles during the laundry process is limited. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the properties of synthetic textiles affect the release of synthetic microfibers during washing cycles.
Analytical methods for the released synthetic microfibers are also crucial for identifying possible factors. Several researchers have developed different approaches to quantifying synthetic microfiber release during laundry cycles. Generally, techniques for quantifying released synthetic microfibers include using a microscope to count the fibers, measuring the microfiber mass, and analyzing the results with a Raman spectrometer, FTIR, or ICP-MS detector. Wastewater from washing cycles is collected and subjected to a subsequent filtration system with a specific mesh size and type of filter (with or without a vacuum-assisted filtration system), and the amount and dimensions of the synthetic microfibers are determined.
Although their existence has been confirmed in several environments, the outcome of synthetic fibers released into aquatic environments remains unclear. This chapter highlights methods for quantifying and detecting released synthetic microfibers. In the future, identifying key variables that impact the release of synthetic microfibers from synthetic clothes during washing and drying cycles may contribute to the development of strategies to decrease environmental pollution caused by such microfibers.
