Unveiling the Microfiber Release Footprint: Guiding Control Strategies in the Textile Production Industry

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Textile Engineering
• Marine Pollution

Background:

• Microplastic fibers from textiles are a major source of marine pollution.
• Limited understanding exists regarding microfiber formation and discharge during textile manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• Quantify microfiber emissions during textile production across various materials.
• Identify key stages and factors influencing microfiber release.
• Guide the development of effective control strategies for textile microfiber pollution.

Main Methods:

• Quantified microfiber emissions from a large textile factory across seven material types.
• Analyzed microfiber release during different production stages, including wet processing and dyeing.
• Investigated the impact of yarn properties (thickness, twist) and dyeing parameters (color, temperature, duration).

Main Results:

• Wet-processing steps emitted up to 25 times more microfibers than home laundering.
• Dyeing processes accounted for 95.0% of total microfiber emissions.
• White coloring, lower dyeing temperatures, and shorter dyeing times reduced microfiber release. Thinner yarns increased pollution, while tightly twisted fibers mitigated it.

Conclusions:

• Textile manufacturing, particularly dyeing, is a substantial source of microfiber pollution.
• Optimizing dyeing parameters, material selection (e.g., recycled fibers), and yarn structure can significantly reduce microfiber emissions.
• Global mitigation strategies are needed, with China, India, and the US as key areas for focus.