Systematic study of the presence of microplastic fibers during polyester yarn production

Synthetic fibers, especially polyester, have over past decades managed to overtake and dominate the textile industry. Microplastic fibers are shed from synthetic textiles during their user phase, primarily washing. However, there is little known about origin, except that they likely embedded in already since production. Therefore, we systematically examined presence of microplastic process yarn We started with one bale took samples opening step throughout carding, sliver handling finally spinning. extracted all order quantify characterize them. also investigated impact parameters, 4 different spinning methods (ring, compact, rotor, air-jet spinning). found studied samples, ranging between 44 fibers/g 8057 fibers/g. Rotor-spun yarns were identified as a material high content (2000–8000/g) while other including spun alternative methods, showed fiber numbers tens hundreds Varying operational settings carding had none minimal impacts on number exception rotor spinning, where observed fold increase when speed was increased by 25%. The released each unique length distribution varying medians: 210 ?m for yarns, 330 530–580 ring compact yarns. results this study will allow companies select processes or operating conditions minimize fibers.