Microplastics and microfibers pollution: study of their environmental issues and evaluation of reduction alternatives

This work is the compilation of the research carried out by Ph.D. student, Francisco Belzagui Elder, during his predoctoral stage in the Environmental Engineering research group (ENMA) of the Institute of Textile Research and Industrial Cooperation of Terrassa (INTEXTER) that belong to the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC).The microplastics (MPs) are small fragments (length < 5 mm) of non-chemically modified and/or non-biodegradable polymers. Rough estimations point that there are between 15 to 51 trillion buoyant items of MPs in marine environments and 14 million tons in the top 9 cm of sediments of the world’s oceans. According to the “European Chemical Agency”, chemically treated and/or nonbiodegradable textile microfibers (MFs) are a type of microplastics with a length to diameter ratio higher than 3 mm and a maximum length of 15 mm. One of the most renowned sources of MFs are those detached from every cycle of a textile article laundering. These are considered one of the most environmentally threatening pollutants as they have a continuous and cumulative entrance to the environment. Due to their small diameter they are more prone to be ingested by organisms, so high concentrations have been found in products for human consumption, as shellfish and tap water. In this research, the microfibers’ detachment rates of finished garments were evaluated. Results showed that MFs detachment ranges between 175 to 560 MFs/g or 30’000 to 465’000 MFs/m2 of garment. In addition, there was a high correlation between the MFs detachment and the textile article superficial density. As there are still no accurate models to assess the MFs pollution, in this thesis a method to estimate the mass flow of MFs detached from household laundry that reaches aquatic environments was developed. The method considered the following parameters: (1) the detachment rate of microfibers from different textile garments, (2) the volume of laundry effluents, (3) the percentage of municipal water that is treated, (4) the type of used-water treatment applied, and, (5) the proportion of front- versus top-loading washing machines. In this way, 0.28 million tons of microfibers per year were estimated to reach aquatic environments. Moreover, hypothetical situations were simulated to evaluate the reduction of microfibers by modifying some parameters at different levels (consumer, government entities, and industry). It was found that depending on the implanted alternatives, microfibers that reach the aquatic environments could be reduced between 30% to 65%. On the other hand, the current status of MFs as pollutants is reviewed, discussing possible alternatives from the manufacturing until the final disposition of MFs. There are many alternatives to reduce these pollutants but also gaps that need to be addressed. Some viable solutions to retain them are currently on the market. However, until this thesis was over, there was no single proposal on the destination of the retained MFs. Hence, in this research a filter has been developed to retain the MFs and a proposal to treat the retained MFs was evaluated, following the circular economy philosophy. Both processes were patented. The developed filtering system is totally made of recycled polymers. Its performance is higher than 97% of MFs’ removal from the washers’ effluents with a replacement time for the cartridge from 30 to more than 40 washing cycles. The retained MFs are subsequently immobilized in a polymeric matrix, turning them into a composite. Different proportions of polyester MFs were mixed with low-density polyethylene for immobilization of MFs. Results showed that the optimum composition, which improved some of the tensile mechanical properties, was 10% polyester MFs in the polymeric matrix. Finally, other sources of MFs were studied, specifically, cigarette butts. These contains the smoked filters (SF) and unsmoked rests of tobacco. SFs are hazardous debris composed of > 15’000 strands that can be detached as MFs. Their detachment rate, acute aquatic toxicity, and the aquatic-, thermooxidative-, and photo-degradability were evaluated. It was found that SFs detach approximately 100 small MFs (< 0.2 mm) per day. About 0.3 million tons of potential MFs might be annually reaching aquatic environments from this source. A significant difference of eco-toxicity and a low degradability rate was found when MFs are present in the leachate generated by the SFs. This implies that MFs from SFs constitute an important source of microplastics, which might partially explain the high concentration of artificial polymers found in the deep-sea sediments.This work was supported by INDITEX (2018-2021) through the call “Doctorats Industrials 2018”. This thesis was granted by the “Secretaria d'Universitats I Recerca del Departament d'Empresa I Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya” (AGAUR) with the Grant “Doctorats Industrials 2018 DI 022”. Part of the chapter 7 of this thesis was funded by UPC through the project “MBBR carriers” (R-02058 – Ajut als instituts 2021).Postprint (author's final draft

Review on alternatives for the reduction of textile microfibers emission to water

The microplastics (MPs) are considered one of the most threatening pollutants. One of the main concerns is their continuous and cumulative flow to water environments, as they are very difficult to be removed. Microfibers (MFs) are a significant type of MPs, with textile articles as one of the most renowned sources. This review aims to provide the current status of these MFs as pollutants, discussing possible alternatives from the manufacturing until the final disposition of MFs. There are many alternatives to reduce these pollutants from reaching the environment but also gaps that need to be further evaluated and addressed. Besides, it should be noticed that alternatives could be complementary between them. Some viable and non-contaminating solutions to reduce this pollution are currently on the market. Also, one relevant aspect is the final disposition or usage of the retained MFs to avoid them from reaching aquatic environmentsThe authors acknowledge the support of the “Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya” for funding this projectPostprint (published version

"Cuando el ciudadano se violenta" : Algunos apuntes para su reinterpretación

Los actos de violencia en que algunos ciudadanos incurrieron durante los amotinamientos policiales de fines de 2013 son el marco de referencia donde poner a dialogar textos de Cornelius Castoriadis, a través de la interpretación de Javier Cristiano, con otros producidos por estas tierras, como los de Rodolfo Kusch y Octavio Paz, para ensayar “viejas formas nuevas” de revisar los actos de violencia sucedidos.Instituto de Investigaciones en Comunicación (IICOM

"Cuando el ciudadano se violenta" : Algunos apuntes para su reinterpretación

Los actos de violencia en que algunos ciudadanos incurrieron durante los amotinamientos policiales de fines de 2013 son el marco de referencia donde poner a dialogar textos de Cornelius Castoriadis, a través de la interpretación de Javier Cristiano, con otros producidos por estas tierras, como los de Rodolfo Kusch y Octavio Paz, para ensayar “viejas formas nuevas” de revisar los actos de violencia sucedidos.Instituto de Investigaciones en Comunicación (IICOM

"Cuando el ciudadano se violenta" : Algunos apuntes para su reinterpretación

Los actos de violencia en que algunos ciudadanos incurrieron durante los amotinamientos policiales de fines de 2013 son el marco de referencia donde poner a dialogar textos de Cornelius Castoriadis, a través de la interpretación de Javier Cristiano, con otros producidos por estas tierras, como los de Rodolfo Kusch y Octavio Paz, para ensayar “viejas formas nuevas” de revisar los actos de violencia sucedidos.Instituto de Investigaciones en Comunicación (IICOM

Novel treatment to immobilize and use textiles microfibers retained in polymeric filters through their incorporation in composite materials

Microplastics (MPs, size < 5 mm) are among the most environmentally challenging pollutants. Their continuous and cumulative inflow or generation in the environment is what makes them drastically problematic. These pollutants can come from a wide variety of sources; hence, they are potential vectors that pose extensive risks to environmental and human health. Microfibers (MFs) are one type of MPs. Among the most well-known types of MFs are those detached from textile articles from household laundering or industrial processes. Currently, there are many ways to retain the MFs detached from textile articles. However, as far we know, there are no methods of valorizing the retained MFs. As such, we propose a novel and sustainable treatment method to immobilize MFs in a polymeric matrix, turning them into a composite. To determine the mechanical properties of the expected composites, different proportions of polyester MFs were mixed with low-density polyethylene, which is the material proposed for the immobilization of MFs. The results show that the optimum manufacturing composition was 10% (v/v) polyester MFs in the polymeric matrix. This composition improved some of the tensile mechanical properties of the polymeric matrix. Once the composites are obtained, these can be used for different purposesThis research was funded by the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR 2018_DI_022)Postprint (published version

"Cuando el ciudadano se violenta". Algunos apuntes para su reinterpretación

Los actos de violencia en que algunos ciudadanos incurrieron durante los amotinamientos policiales de fines de 2013 son el marco de referencia donde poner a dialogar textos de Cornelius Castoriadis, a través de la interpretación de Javier Cristiano, con otros producidos por estas tierras, como los de Rodolfo Kusch y Octavio Paz, para ensayar “viejas formas nuevas” de revisar los actos de violencia sucedidos

Development of a self-sustaining floating water treatment system with renewable energy supply ETAF

II International Congress on Watter and Sustainability. Terrassa – Barcelona, 24-25-26 March 2021. Most attractive Poster AwardAward-winnin

Sustainable filtering systems to reduce microfiber emissions from textiles during household laundering

During laundering, synthetic textiles (polyester, polyamide, etc.) can release small fiber debris with a length of <5 mm. These are a type of microplastics (MPs), usually referred to as microfibers (MFs), which are considered high-concern pollutants due to their continuous and cumulative entrance into the environment. Currently, as far as we know, there are no feasible alternatives to remove them. In this work, four new and sustainable filtering systems are proposed to retain the MFs emitted from domestic washing machines. The filters contain a replaceable cartridge partially filled with recycled low-density polyethylene pellets. The four designed filtering systems of different sizes were tested in a household washing machine determining the retention efficiency of the MFs after several washing cycles. It was found that all four assessed filter arrangements have a good performance for retaining MFs from the washers’ effluents. Filter F1 (diameter of 4 cm and a height of 30 cm) started retaining more than 50% of the MFs, at the 10th washing cycle, the retention climbed to 66%, while in the 20th washing cycle, its retention was greater than 80%. MF retention was higher for filter F2 (diameter of 6.3 cm and a height of 41 cm), achieving a performance greater than 90% in the 20th washing cycle. Filter F3 was arranged by turning the F1 model flow upside down and the retention efficiency is higher compared with filter F1 values, reaching a retention efficiency of almost 100% in the 15th washing cycle. Finally, filter F4 arrangement was developed using the existing washing machine filter, obtaining better performance than the F1 and F2 filters, reaching efficiencies higher than 90% at the 20th washing cycle. In summary, depending on the arrangement, the microfiber retention efficiency was estimated between 52% and 86% in the 1st washing cycle and up to 83% to 99% in the 20th. Additionally, all arrangements demonstrated that the cartridges may last for more than 30 washing cycles before needing to be replacedThis research was funded by the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Empresa i Coneixement de la Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR 2018_DI_022)Postprint (published version

El rastro invisible y tóxico de billones de colillas

¿Sabía que anualmente se fuman 6 billones de cigarrillos? ¿Y que 4,5 billones de colillas terminan en el medio ambiente? ¡Son más de 8 millones por minuto! Es bien sabido que fumar tiene un impacto en la salud de los fumadores y sus acompañantes. Pero se habla menos del efecto que las colillas provocan en el medio ambiente y en nuestro organismoPostprint (published version