Remediation technology of microfibers from washing machine effuents

Abstract

This research report presents a novel and sustainable method for removing microfibers, a type of microplastic, from washing machine sewage. The study focuses on polyester microfibers, which are released into the environment during the washing of synthetic clothing and have negative impacts on aquatic organisms and ecosystems. The proposed method combines Fenton reaction pretreatment and electro-sorption to effectively target the ester bonds in polyester microfibers and increase their electrical distribution homogeneity. Under optimized experimental conditions, including a Fe(NO₃)₃ concentration of 100 ppm, H₂O₂ concentration of 1.96 M, temperature of 25°C, pretreatment time of 30 minutes, electrode of nickel foam for cathode and carbon rod for anode, NaCl concentration of 3.5 g/L, applied voltage of 4 V, and electrosorption time of 30 minutes, the method achieved a recovery rate of up to 97%. The recovery rate was calculated by mass difference. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is highly effective in removing polyester microfibers and offers a potential solution to the problem of microfiber pollution in the environment. The method has potential for implementation in a real-world laundry setting and can contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.

Date of Award	2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Supervisor	Xijun HU (Supervisor)