20th February 2020 8:04 am

How to make and see Microplastic fibres from clothing

How to make and see microplastic fibres from clothing 

The aim of this activity is to make fibres from material which is made from plastic fibres. 

The fibres seen will have come from the material so can be identified as microplastic fibres. 

Materials

• A piece of clothing made from polyester ( eg teeshirt, fleece). The material can be polyester, nylon, viscose, lycra, elastane, rayon, but not cotton or wool. The material should be about  5 cm square.

• Water, filtered so it does not contain any fibres
• Jar to wash the material in
• Filter funnel
• Filter paper
• Jar to collect filtered water
• Microscope
• Note pad and pencil

Plan of action

Wash the piece of material in water in a clean jar.

Remove the material and discard

Pour the water through the filter paper

Open the filter paper until it is flat.

Look at the filter paper under the microscope at x20 then x40

Identify and count the microplastic fibres on the filter.

Discard the filtered water

Results

Document the number, colour, size of fibres seen.

Controls

Pour clean water through a filter paper and show no fibres on the filter paper. This shows that any fibres seen in the experiment are from the piece of material washed, as the filter paper and water did not contain microplastic fibres.

Risk Assessment

Standard laboratory practice only. No extra risks .

Conclusion

Microplastic fibres are released from the piece of material and can be caught in the filter paper.

Discussion

Discuss if the results matter. What further experiments can be done?