A Comprehensive Literature Study on Microfibres from Washing Machines

Bettina Schöpel; Rainer Stamminger

doi:10.3139/113.110610

Open Access Published by De Gruyter March 7, 2019

A Comprehensive Literature Study on Microfibres from Washing Machines

Umfassende Literaturstudie zu Mikrofasern aus Waschmaschinen

Bettina Schöpel and Rainer Stamminger

From the journal Tenside Surfactants Detergents

https://doi.org/10.3139/113.110610

Abstract

The ubiquitous finding of microplastic in the abiotic and biotic environment has gained a lot of attention recently in the media, scientific community and among the general public. One of the known sources of microfibres is the washing of textiles. It would be a conceivable option to install filters in domestic washing machines that would sift out microplastics to prevent this pollution. The aim of this paper was to conduct a comprehensive literature search on microplastics filters in washing machines published already. Although the results of this research show that there has been an effort to find solutions for this problem in a worldwide context, there has been no known proven system that prevents microfibre release in the aquatic environment which does not have a harmful influence on the washing behaviour and/or washing results.

Kurzfassung

Das ubiquitäre Vorhandensein von Mikroplastik in der abiotischen und biotischen Umwelt hat in letzter Zeit in den Medien, in der Wissenschaft und in der breiten Öffentlichkeit viel Beachtung gefunden. Eine bekannte Quelle für Mikrofasern ist das Waschen von Textilien. Es wäre eine denkbare Option, Filter in Haushaltswaschmaschinen zu installieren, die Mikroplastik aussieben, um diese Verschmutzung zu verhindern. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, eine umfassende Literaturrecherche zu bereits veröffentlichten Mikroplastik-Filtern in Waschmaschinen durchzuführen. Obwohl die Ergebnisse dieser Forschung zeigen, dass im weltweiten Kontext nach Lösungen für dieses Problem gesucht wurde, ist kein System bekannt, das die Freisetzung von Mikrofasern in Gewässern verhindert und das Waschverhalten und/oder die Waschergebnisse nicht beeinträchtigt.

Key words: Micro plastic; textile laundry; filter systems; washing machines

Stichwörter: Mikroplastik; Textilwäsche; Filtersysteme; Waschmaschinen

∗Correspondence address, Prof. Dr. Rainer Stamminger, University of Bonn, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Household and Appliance Technology Section, Nussallee 5, 53115 Bonn, Germany, Tel.: 0049-228-735955, Fax: 0049-228-732596, E-Mail: haushaltstechnik@uni-bonn.de

Rainer Stamminger, University of Bonn. After 17 years of practical experience in the development of washing machines and dishwasher with AEG Hausgeräte, Germany Rainer Stamminger was promoted in 2002 as professor for appliance and process engineering at University of Bonn. Main areas of research at University are consumer behaviour of homework with and without using appliances, new products or features, smart appliances, robots for household application and questions of sustainability of housekeeping.

Bettina Schöpel, University of Bonn. Currently, Ms. Schöpel studies food technology in the Master's course at the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg. Before, she absolved her bachelor at the University of Bonn in Nutrition and Food Science.

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Received: 2018-11-07

Accepted: 2018-11-22

Published Online: 2019-03-07

Published in Print: 2019-03-15

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

A Comprehensive Literature Study on Microfibres from Washing Machines

Abstract

Kurzfassung

References

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