Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Janus-faced coordination chemistry of pyridyl-functionalized phosphinines with Cu(I) and Au(I).

Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)·2026

Same author

Synergistic enhancement of copper recovery from recalcitrant mineral phases by plant microbial fuel cells.

Journal of hazardous materials·2026

Same author

Occurrence, patterns and previously overlooked sources of three veterinary ectoparasiticides in rural and urban Welsh rivers.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2026

Same author

Degradation of cellulose-based wet wipes marketed as 'biodegradable' in their receiving urban rivers.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)·2025

Same author

The prevalence and acceptability of mesocosm studies submitted for macrophytes in pesticide risk assessment.

Integrated environmental assessment and management·2025

Same author

Quantitative insights into the spatio-temporal variation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) biomass in a river catchment using eDNA metabarcoding.

Journal of fish biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade?

Thomas Allison¹, Benjamin D Ward², Michael Harbottle³

¹School of Biosciences and Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom.

The Science of the Total Environment

|June 19, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Most "biodegradable and flushable" wet wipes do not truly degrade. Their production often includes synthetic fibers and additives, leading to persistent microfibers in the environment, not breakdown.

Keywords:

Cellulose Degradation Environmental fate Life cycle Manufacturing properties Microfibres

More Related Videos

Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes

Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes

Published on: December 12, 2013

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes

Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes

Published on: December 12, 2013

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Materials Science
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Consumer wet wipes marketed as biodegradable and flushable have seen significant market growth.
Despite cellulosic composition, these wipes persist in environments similarly to synthetic alternatives, raising questions about their degradation.
Concerns exist regarding the environmental impact of these widely used products.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the physicochemical composition and degradation behavior of cellulosic wet wipes throughout their lifecycle.
To understand how manufacturing processes and environmental conditions affect the breakdown of wet wipes in wastewater and freshwater systems.
To assess whether "biodegradable and flushable" wet wipes truly degrade after disposal.

Main Methods:

Analysis of the physicochemical composition of wet wipe fibers, including cellulosic and synthetic components.
Evaluation of environmental interactions and degradation processes from production to environmental fate.
Assessment of degradation in simulated wastewater and freshwater environments.

Main Results:

Over 50% of "biodegradable and flushable" wipes contain both biodegradable cellulose and low-degradable synthetic fibers.
Chemical additives used to enhance properties can impede the degradation process.
Cellulose fibers fragment physically but exhibit limited molecular degradation, forming persistent microfibers.

Conclusions:

Currently, most flushed "biodegradable and flushable" wet wipes do not significantly degrade in the environment.
Manufacturing properties and inadequate environmental conditions hinder the breakdown of wet wipe fibers.
Further empirical research on in-situ degradation and a full lifecycle approach are needed for wet wipe assessment.