Environmentally Friendly Approach to the Reduction of Microplastics during Domestic Washing: Prospects for Machine Vision in Microplastics Reduction

Abstract

The increase in the global population is directly responsible for the acceleration in the production as well as the consumption of textile products. The use of textiles and garment materials is one of the primary reasons for the microfibers generation and it is anticipated to grow increasingly. Textile microfibers have been found in marine sediments and organisms, posing a real threat to the environment as it is invisible pollution caused by the textile industry. To protect against the damaging effects that microplastics can have, the formulation of mitigation strategies is urgently required. Therefore, the primary focus of this review manuscript is on finding an environmentally friendly long-term solution to the problem of microfiber emissions caused by the domestic washing process, as well as gaining an understanding of the various properties of textiles and how they influence this problem. In addition, it discussed the effect that mechanical and chemical finishes have on microfiber emissions and identified research gaps in order to direct future research objectives in the area of chemical finishing processes. In addition to that, it included a variety of preventative and minimizing strategies for reduction. Last but not least, an emphasis was placed on the potential and foreseeable applications of machine vision (i.e., quantification, data storage, and data sharing) to reduce the amount of microfibers emitted by residential washing machines.

Recent Advances in the Remediation of Textile-Dye-Containing Wastewater: Prioritizing Human Health and Sustainable Wastewater Treatment

“…They have been connected to a range of disorders in both humans and animals, including dermatitis and issues with the central nervous system [100][101][102]; Figure 4 lists these ailments in humans. Typically, there are two paths, which include textile dye ingestion or inhalation can irritate the skin and eyes [26,70,103], particularly if it occurs in dusty conditions [70]. Persons who work with reactive dyes run the risk of experiencing allergic responses, including occupational asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, and contact dermatitis.…”

Investigate the Processability of Biobased Thermoplastics Used in Nonwoven Fabrics

“…Furthermore, the incomplete degradation of synthetic fibers leads to the production of microplastics, which subsequently accumulate in the atmosphere, soil, and seawater. This accumulation poses a significant global environmental pollution concern. − To find a solution to this problem, biobased and biodegradable polymers are gaining attention …”

Release of fibrous microplastics from functional polyester garments through household washing

“…The textile parameters must not be neglected in the consideration of the fiber release from the laundry: The type of fabric (woven, knit or non-woven) and the fabric treatment during production (e.g., dyeing and finishing) play an important role (Liu et al, 2021;Periyasamy, 2023). The highest number of fiber fragments was released from softshell material, followed by fleece material and T-shirts (Sillanpää and Sainio, 2017) or vice versa (Kärkkäinen and Sillanpää, 2021).…”