engleski

Release of microplastics into wastewater by washing polyester fabrics

Microplastics have become one of the biggest threats to the environment today, a global problem, and should be a cause for concern in the near future. Plastic goes through various degradation processes and breaks down into microscopic particles known as microplastics (MP). Microplastics are generally defined as polymer fragments smaller than 5 mm in size that, when found in the environment, are an inconspicuous but dangerous form of contamination due to their harmful properties. Microplastics are considering as harmful forms of plastic that, due to their toxic properties, impair the health of all living organisms. It is well known that the largest amounts of MP can be found in the oceans and seas. Research shows that each year, about 8 million tons of MPs are released into the oceans. So, it is assumed that by 2050, more plastics will be found in the seas and oceans than fish. Microplastics are ubiquitous and show a great tendency to interact with the ecosystem, endangering biogenic fauna and flora. It can accumulate harmful pollutants that come from the environment and serve as a means of transport. In addition to size, MPs can also vary in color, strength, density, and flexibility. There are two sources of microplastics, the primary and secondary. The primary sources include intentionally produced microplastic particles, for example, microplastics beads and microplastics used in industry (fibers and powders), detergents, cosmetics, hygiene products, etc. This type of microplastics most often enters the environment by discharge of insufficiently treated wastewaters from various industrial plants and municipal wastewater treatment plants. Secondary microplastics are formed in nature by crushing larger pieces of plastic by the action of waves, salt water, UV radiation, and other biotic and abiotic factors. Crushed plastic did not disintegrate or change its chemical structure ; it changed only the physical appearance. One of the most important secondary sources of microplastics are synthetic fibres. According relevant literature, polyethylene makes up about 54.5% of the microplastics floating in the ocean, while polypropylene makes up about 16.5%, and the rest is made up of other polymers, such as polyamides, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. Nowadays, synthetic fabrics are widely used for clothing, carpets, and various other materials. In general, textiles based on these synthetic materials have the potential to release MPs into the environment during material production or cleaning. Consequently, washing of fabrics or clothing made of synthetic fibers is one of the main sources of microplastics in the environment, since washing machine filters and wastewater treatment plants are not specifically designed to retain microplastics. This review paper identifies the main potential sources and representatives of microplastics pollution in wastewater, as well as alternative methods to reduce the amount of microplastics through washing of polyester fabrics. The concept of microplastics and their intensive release during the washing process of synthetic fabrics will be the subject of research in the field of textile chemistry for a long time.

microplastics ; wastewater ; textiles ; polyester ; polyester aging

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