Separation and Identification of Microfibers in the Wastewater of Textile Finishing Process

Year 2024, EARLY VIEW, 1 - 1

Sinem Hazal Akyıldız , İpek Yalcin Enis , Hande Sezgin , Rossana Bellopede , Silvia Fiore , Bahattin Yalcin

https://doi.org/10.2339/politeknik.1310805

Abstract

Microplastic pollution is an important global problem caused by the textile industry, which is responsible for 35% of microplastics released as microfibers. Microplastics interact with a variety of organisms due to their small dimensions and can result in chromosomal mutations that cause obstruction, inflammation, and organ accumulation. This study aims to detect microfibers released from the textile finishing machinery, which is used to give a soft touch to fabrics, and to separate these microfibers from wastewater. Within the scope of the study, wastewater samples were taken separately in February and March 2022, right after the device exit, before being discharged to the factory effluent and pre-treated for 5 days at 25 °C with 15% H2O2. Then, the microfibers were separated from the wastewater with the help of a filter. Filters with accumulated microfibers were observed using a light microscope, and a micro-FTIR was used to detect microfibers chemically. Furthermore, a scanning electron microscope was used for analyzing the structure of microfibers. The results showed that acrylic and cotton microfibers were detected in wastewater, and wastewater samples from different dates contained different amounts of microfibers (0.058 g/L and 0.251 g/L), which reveals the seriousness of the microplastic problem we are facing.

Keywords

Microplastic pollution, Microfibers, Textile wastewater, Filtration, Micro-FTIR

Supporting Institution

The authors gratefully acknowledge ERASMUS+ support for the mobility of Akyildiz, S.H. to Politecnico di Torino, Italy for 6 months (February–July 2022).

Tekstil Terbiye İşlemi Atıksularında Mikroliflerin Ayrıştırılması ve Tanımlanması

Abstract

Mikroplastik kirliliği, mikrolif olarak salınan mikroplastiklerin %35'inden sorumlu olan tekstil endüstrisinin sebep olduğu önemli bir küresel sorundur. Mikroplastikler küçük boyutlarından dolayı, çok çeşitli organizmalarla etkileşime girebilir, tıkanıklığa, iltihaplanmaya ve organ birikimine neden olan kromozomal mutasyonlara yol açabilir. Bu çalışma, kumaşlara yumuşak bir tuşe vermek için kullanılan tekstil terbiye makinelerinden salınan mikrolifleri tespit etmeyi ve bu mikrolifleri atıksulardan ayırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında, atıksu numuneleri fabrika çıkış suyuna verilmeden önce cihaz çıkışından hemen sonra Şubat ve Mart 2022 tarihlerinde ayrı ayrı alınmış olup, %15 H2O2 ile 25 °C'de 5 gün ön işleme tabi tutulmuştur. Ardından mikrolifler filtre yardımı ile atıksudan ayrıştırılmıştır. Filtrelerde biriken mikrolifler, ışık mikroskobu kullanılarak gözlemlenmiş ve mikrolifleri kimyasal olarak tespit etmek için mikro-FTIR cihazı kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca, mikroliflerin morfolojisi taramalı elektron mikroskobu ile incelenmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, atıksularda akrilik ve pamuk mikroliflerinin tespit edildiğini ve farklı tarihlere ait atık su numunelerinin farklı miktarlarda (0,058 g/L ve 0,251 g/L) mikrolif içerdiğini göstermiştir ki bu da karşı karşıya olduğumuz mikroplastik sorununun ciddiyetini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Mikroplastik kirliliği, Mikrolifler, Tekstil atıksuları, Filtrasyon, Mikro-FTIR

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