Comprehensive assessment of fragmented fiber shedding from recycled cotton textiles part i structural changes in woven fabrics and mass loss quantification during laundering
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study evaluates fiber release from recycled cotton fabrics during washing. Understanding the behavior of recycled cotton textiles is becoming increasingly important, as their use is expected to grow under current EU legislation. The research, therefore, aims not only to assess the suitability of yarns made from various types of cotton waste but also to expand existing knowledge about cellulose particle emissions from mechanically recycled natural fibers through quantitative and qualitative analysis. Another goal is to characterize microcontaminants released during repeated washing cycles. This article presents the first of three parts focusing on quantitative emission analysis, the development of an image-based methodology, and a comprehensive evaluation of woven samples. The experiment was designed to reflect industrial practice: open rotor yarn (29.5 tex) was produced on a Rieter R37 rotor spinning machine, and plain-weave fabrics were woven on a SOMET rapier loom with a STÄUBLI electronic jacquard. Significant structural stabilization occurred within the first five washing cycles, marking the end of the “first wash” phenomenon and the establishment of a new internal stress equilibrium. Shrinkage was more pronounced in the warp direction, directly related to the specific construction of the warp yarns. The cumulative weight loss of released fibers stabilized at 1–1.5 mg·g⁻¹ after five cycles, consistent with modeled expectations. SEM and EDS analyses confirmed that the released material consists of cellulose dust, fibrillated fragments, and detached particles—typical of degradation caused by mechanical recycling and repeated washing stress. Measurement accuracy was improved using Monte Carlo simulations (10,000 iterations), which showed that instrumental uncertainty contributes 5.7–8.4% of total relative uncertainty. The findings indicate that recycled cotton is a notable source of biodegradable microcontaminants, with quantities strongly linked to input material quality. These results provide a solid basis for further evaluation of the environmental impacts of recycled textiles in the circular economy.
Source: Scientific Reports
Institutions: Universidade da Coruña, Technical University of Liberec
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7170031440
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