AlgaFlame – Algae for Safe and Sustainable Functional Textiles

Join Us! Discover the Future of Sustainable Materials

Can algae help make textiles both safer and more sustainable? This exciting question is at the heart of the AlgaFlame research project, funded by Hamburg Innovation. The project aims to investigate the natural properties of algae for the development of new environmentally friendly flame-retardant materials.

The project is in collaboration with the start-up AlgaCore and builds upon the successful outcomes of the AlgaTex initiative, which demonstrated that raw algae-derived fibers can be processed into textile materials with promising functional properties. Preliminary fire tests revealed that fabrics containing algal fibers exhibit significantly reduced flammability compared with conventional cellulose-based materials, even without the addition of chemical flame retardants.

Why algae?

Many natural textile fibers, such as cotton, require additional flame-retardant treatments to meet safety standards for applications in protective clothing, transportation, and technical textiles. Conventional flame-retardant additives often rely on complex chemical formulations that may raise environmental and health concerns.

Algae offer a sustainable alternative. In addition to their low environmental footprint, certain algal biomass show inherent flame-resistant characteristics resulting from their unique biological composition. These natural properties could reduce or even eliminate the need for conventional flame-retardant chemicals.

To achieve this, a diverse collection of filamentous algae available at the Microalgae and Zygnematophyceae Collection Hamburg (MZCH)  is being screened and evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. Promising candidates are further cultivated and characterized for their suitability in textile manufacturing and fire-safety applications.

Our Team

• Dr. Abdelfatah Abomohra (Project leader)
• Atiqur Rahaman (PhD student and Research support)
• Pascal Rück (Master student)
• Julia Bodino (Bachelor Student)
• Maria del Mar Rodilla Roman (Bachelor Student)

Related publications

• Unraveling filamentous algae as a renewable bioresource for advanced moisture-absorbent innovative aquatic fibers
• Enhanced micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) removal by easy-harvestable filamentous algae with indications of plastic surface transformation
• Editorial: Versatility of algae in addressing global sustainability challenges
• Unveiling the potential of freshwater filamentous algae as a promising alternative source of essential fatty acids and bioactive carotenoids

Public Engagement and Workshops

In cooperation with University museum and as part of its outreach activities, AlgaFlame offers workshops and demonstration events that provide insights into algae-based materials, sustainable textiles, and current research activities. These events are hosted within the Labor für morgen and are freely open to interested participants.