Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade?

Allison, Thomas C.; Ward, Benjamin D.; Harbottle, Michael John; Durance, Isabelle

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164912

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 148 publications

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“…The uninvited COVID-19 outbreak pushed the interest to develop more sustainable disposable items such as single-use wet wipes to sanitize surfaces . Wet wipes in general are used for multiple personal care purposes, such as removal of makeup and baby hygiene wipes, and for disinfection and biomedical services. − Current wet wipes are mainly composed of nonwoven textiles made of fossil-based and nondegradable synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene/vinyl acetate (PEVA/EVA), and polypropylene (PP). , The inappropriate disposal of such single-use products, with congealed masses can create blockages with the development of “fatbergs”, while also being a source of environmental pollution . Biobased and faster biodegrading nonwoven wet wipes, based for example on the abundant biopolymer cellulose, would be an attractive alternative .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2−5 Current wet wipes are mainly composed of nonwoven textiles made of fossil-based and nondegradable synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene/vinyl acetate (PEVA/EVA), and polypropylene (PP). 6,7 The inappropriate disposal of such single-use products, with congealed masses can create blockages with the development of "fatbergs", while also being a source of environmental pollution. 8 Biobased and faster biodegrading nonwoven wet wipes, based for example on the abundant biopolymer cellulose, would be an attractive alternative.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Light Processable Methacrylated Carbon Dot-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Resins with Potential Applications from Dye Adsorption to Antibacterial Gels and Wet Wipes

Hazarika,

Srivastava,

Hakkarainen

2024

ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.

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Cellulose-derived materials could offer more sustainable alternatives for current single-use hygiene articles produced from nondegradable fossil-based polymers. We successfully fabricated light processable methacrylated carbon dot-hydroxyethyl cellulose resins and illustrated potential applications in dye adsorption, antibacterial gels, and wet wipes. Carbon dots were first produced by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization and the oxidation of cellulose. The obtained carbon dots and hydroxyethyl cellulose were in situ methacrylated to composite resins, which could be cured to gels in a mold or processed to 3D structures with digital light processing 3D printing. The cured gels had an adequate gel content of 80–84% and high swelling degree up to 350% in binary mixtures of water and dimethyl sulfoxide. Furthermore, the gels were effective dye-adsorbents, and they retained some of the antibacterial properties of nonmodified hydroxyethyl cellulose as evaluated by the disc diffusion method. While the gels could still be recovered after 60 days of soil burial at room temperature, clear sign of degradation and opening of the cross-linked structure were observed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, a potential wet wipe was fabricated by laminating the produced gel between two electrospun cellulose acetate mats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Light Processable Methacrylated Carbon Dot-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Resins with Potential Applications from Dye Adsorption to Antibacterial Gels and Wet Wipes

Hazarika,

Srivastava,

Hakkarainen

2024

ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.

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“…6,7 These issues are attributed to challenges in developing wipes that balance high strength during their manufacturing and use, traditionally achieved with longer and synthetic and semisynthetic fibers and synthetic polymeric binders, with rapid dispersibility, favored by shorter and weaker/natural cellulosic fibers. 3,8,14,15 Additionally, neither synthetic nor regenerated cellulose fibers (which have been used as building blocks for wet wipes) are readily biodegradable under the conditions they encounter upon being flushed. 8,14 To help address these challenges of pipe and pump clogging and harmful microplastic emissions, here we examine a flushable wet wipe design based on toilet paper (which is easily dispersible upon flushing) 6,16 and abundant/biodegradable biopolymer-based gels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3,8,14,15 Additionally, neither synthetic nor regenerated cellulose fibers (which have been used as building blocks for wet wipes) are readily biodegradable under the conditions they encounter upon being flushed. 8,14 To help address these challenges of pipe and pump clogging and harmful microplastic emissions, here we examine a flushable wet wipe design based on toilet paper (which is easily dispersible upon flushing) 6,16 and abundant/biodegradable biopolymer-based gels. In doing so, we exploit stimulusresponsive, reversible self-assembly of biobased polyelectrolytes into supramolecular gels, which can be toggled on demand by applying external stimuli (such as changes in solvent, ion concentration, temperature, or pH) 17−21 to generate the toilet paper-based flushable wipes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward Wet Wipes That Turn into Toilet Paper Debris When Flushed Through Reversible Biopolyelectrolyte Self-Assembly

Choudhuri,

Kendall,

Griffin

et al. 2024

ACS Appl. Polym. Mater.

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Wet wipes are widely used in cleaning and personal hygiene applications. However, they frequently contain plastic components that cause microplastic pollution and, even when marketed as flushable, have, in the case of many tested products, been found to agglomerate and clog pipes and pumps in wastewater collection and treatment systems. To this end, we present a method to create wet wipes using toilet paper infused with biopolymer gels that disintegrate in excess water. By infusing toilet paper with alginate or κ-carrageenan solutions followed by gelation, we generate wet wipes with tensile strengths that are comparable to those reported for commercial flushable wipes (≳100 N/m wipe width) and can be tailored by varying biopolymer and salt concentrations and numbers of base toilet paper layers. Using this approach, both alcohol wipes (formed through the gelation of alginate solutions in ethanol) and aqueous wet wipes (formed by gelling κ-carrageenan solutions in room-temperature, aqueous KCl) can be produced. Upon simulated flushing (i.e., immersion of the wipes in excess water, which causes the ethanol or KCl to diffuse out), the gel networks break down within minutes, reducing the tensile strength to that of wet toilet paper, and toilet/drain line clearance and Publicly Available Specification 3 (PAS3) Slosh Box testing confirms their effective dispersion upon flushing. Analyses of how the dispersed wipes affect the performance of wastewater bioreactors indicate that the degradation products from these wipes, at concentrations expected in wastewater treatment, should not disrupt municipal wastewater treatment processes. Collectively, our findings suggest that these toilet paper and biopolymer-based wet wipes could prevent clogging in wastewater pipes and pumps and reduce the accumulation of harmful plastics in the environment.

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Marine Biodegradation Behavior of Wool and Other Textile Fibers

Collie,

Brorens,

Hassan

et al. 2024

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Microplastic pollution is a growing concern for the earth’s terrestrial and marine environments. Synthetic fibers from textiles are one source of microplastic pollution as fibers may be released from garments during use and especially during laundering, whereby they may enter the aquatic environment via wastewater systems. Wool is a natural fiber, but it is often given treatments to enhance its performance, such as to make it resistant to shrinkage caused by machine washing. Treatments of this type might influence the fiber’s inherent biodegradability. We sought to understand the aquatic biodegradation behavior of wool (in its unmodified form, and chlorine-Hercosett shrink-resist treated) and a range of synthetic fibers that are used in similar clothing applications. The biodegradation test was carried out in a simulated marine environment using a natural seawater inoculant according to the ASTM D6691 method with some modifications. Biodegraded wool residues were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopies. The extent of fiber damage was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Both types of wool biodegraded readily under these conditions and machine-washable wool biodegraded to a greater extent than untreated wool. Regenerated cellulosic fiber (viscose rayon) also degraded readily, but all three synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon and polypropylene) showed virtually no biodegradation. Analysis of solid and liquid residues generated by the biodegraded wool showed no evidence that the chlorine-Hercosett-treated wool generated any non-degraded residues. Based on these findings we believe that, unlike synthetics, wool fibers are very unlikely to lead to microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment.

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Do flushed biodegradable wet wipes really degrade?

Cited by 7 publications

References 148 publications

Light Processable Methacrylated Carbon Dot-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Resins with Potential Applications from Dye Adsorption to Antibacterial Gels and Wet Wipes

Light Processable Methacrylated Carbon Dot-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Resins with Potential Applications from Dye Adsorption to Antibacterial Gels and Wet Wipes

Toward Wet Wipes That Turn into Toilet Paper Debris When Flushed Through Reversible Biopolyelectrolyte Self-Assembly

Marine Biodegradation Behavior of Wool and Other Textile Fibers

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