A Nature-Friendly Approach to the Decomposition of Polyester Fabrics: Greater Wax Moth Larvae, Galleria mellonella

Abstract

Polyester fabrics are widely used in various fields, from textiles to packaging applications, due to their easy production and low cost. However, the C─C chains and C─O bonds of these polymers make it difficult for them to spontaneously decompose in nature, and it takes decades for polyester fabric to decompose in nature. This, combined with the increasing production rates, causes serious risks to human, living, and environmental health, and concerns about waste pollution are steadily increasing. In this study, the use of greater wax moth (Gallleria mellonella) larvae was proposed as a natural method to accelerate polyester decomposition. For this purpose, polyester fabric was exposed to the larvae. The surface morphology was then examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chemical changes were analyzed via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SEM images indicated a rapid onset of surface degradation, and FTIR spectra suggested that the larvae caused the fabric to oxidize. These findings suggest that the polyester chains may have been compromised by this oxidation process, whereas the disintegration of the fabric was likely accelerated by the mechanical actions of the larvae. Although further research is required to gain a full understanding of the precise process of larval-induced decomposition, these preliminary results highlight a promising method for breaking down synthetic polymer-based fabrics, potentially contributing to ecological balance and sustainability.