Original scientific paper
The assessment of the release of microplastics from textile sources in the washing process of polyester fabric
Tanja Pušić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Sandra Flinčec Grgac
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Branko Neral
; University of Maribor, Faculty of mechanical engineering, Maribor, Slovenia
Ana Šaravanja
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
Tihana Dekanić
; University of Zagreb Faculty of Textile Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Environmental issues, considered through the impact of textiles on the quality and health of people, have become increasingly interesting for researchers, professionals and regulators in recent decades. One of the topics that is attracting increasing interest from researchers and the public is microplastic pollution. The properties of the textile material in combination with the variables of the washing process have an influence on the release of fragments in the washing process. This study focuses on the analysis of a polyester fabric with a complex structure in a washing process with the reference detergent ECE-A* and water according to procedure 2A of the EN ISO 6330 standard for the evaluation of the release of microplastics of textile origin. The fabric was analysed using FTIR and microscopy to gain insight into the structural properties and composition of the individual units. The effects of washing were assessed by analysing the wastewater and the filter cake. The drying effects were analysed by weighing the washed and dried fabric in relation to the unwashed. The physico-chemical parameters of the wastewaters were characterised by pH, conductivity, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The filter cake was analysed by microscopy. The results show the importance of analysis three observed levels: fabric, wastewater and filter cake, in order to take into account the complexity of this system and assess its impact on the environment.
Keywords
polyester fabric; washing; drying; fragments; microplastics; wastewater
Hrčak ID:
351004
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2025.
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