Aerobic biodegradation in freshwater and marine environments of textile microfibers generated in clothes laundering: Effects of cellulose and polyester-based microfibers on the microbiome

The aerobic biodegradation of common textiles that shed microfibers during laundering was evaluated under the action of microbes found in the environment, such as lake and seawater, and activated sludge at a low concentration from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Under these conditions, the biodegradation potential was the same in all the experiments: Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) > Cotton > Rayon > Polyester/Cotton ≫ Polyester. Nevertheless, for cotton and rayon yarns, >70% biodegradation was achieved with activated sludge at low concentration and lake water, whereas in seawater, about 50% degradation was reached. Polyester did not appreciably degrade. The biodegradation results herein indicate potential not absolutes in nature. The bacterial diversity analyses in the different biodegradation inoculums show that there are distinct bacterial communities related to the assimilation and mineralization of complex carbohydrates that were promoted with the cellulosic MCC, cotton, and rayon samples different than the polyester sample. [Display omitted] •The biodegradability was as follows: Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) > Cotton > Rayon > Polyester/Cotton >> Polyester.•The biodegradability depends on the chemical nature of the fibers and the microorganisms present in the environment.•The biodegradation achieved with activated sludge from the WWTP and lake water was higher than with the seawater.•The bacterial diversity analyses show that there are different communities developed in each inoculum system.•• There are distinct communities related to the biodegradable and non-degraded samples.