The role of laundry fibers in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Adsorption: implications for U.S. Water Safety and Pollution Control
1 Department of Civil Engineering, University of North Dakota, USA.
2 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.
Review
International Journal of Frontline Research in Chemistry and Pharmacy, 2025, 03(01), 001-012
Article DOI: 10.56355/ijfrcp.2025.3.1.0021
Publication history:
Received on 07 April 2025; revised on 28 June 2025; accepted on 30 June 2025
Abstract:
This study investigates the role of laundry fibers as vectors for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) transport in U.S. water systems. Through systematic analysis of fiber composition, surface characteristics, and adsorption mechanisms, we analyzed the capacity of common textile fibers to adsorb and transport various PFAS compounds. Utilizing a combination of spectroscopic techniques, batch equilibrium tests, and column breakthrough experiments, it was observed that synthetic fibers exhibit significantly higher PFAS adsorption capacities (0.5-2.4 μg/g) compared to natural fibers (0.1-0.3 μg/g). Adsorption was primarily governed by hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic forces, with pH and ionic strength substantially influencing uptake kinetics. Notably, weathered microfibers showed 30-45% greater PFAS adsorption than pristine fibers, suggesting increased environmental risk from aged textiles. Our findings indicate that laundry fibers serve as significant, previously underestimated vectors for PFAS transport in aquatic environments, with implications for wastewater treatment optimization and regulatory approaches to mitigate this contamination pathway.
Keywords:
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); Microfibers; Textile pollution; Adsorption mechanisms; Water contamination; Wastewater treatment
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0