AlgiKnit is working on material solutions to address the textile and fashion industry’s pollution problems such as the use of toxic substances, greenhouse gas emissions, and perhaps most importantly, the build-up of microplastics in the environment. Unlike fibers derived from petrochemical sources such as polyester and acrylics, which when ending up in landfills can accumulate for millennia, this new material can be broken down, composted, and returned as nutrients, feeding the next generation of raw materials. Reported here is work focused on utilizing alginic acid derived from kelp, one of the most abundant and efficient organisms on the planet. As such, it provides a dramatically lower environmental impact and fits into a circular economy. Both the fashion and textile industry and their customers are well aware of the sustainability challenges they face and have been in search of material solutions. New materials that are non-toxic, biodegradable, cost-competitive, and have mechanical performance similar to synthetic materials, possess the greatest potential to make a positive impact on the environmental footprint. The use of alginic acid feedstock addresses textile industrial pollution problems at four stages: 1) kelp cultivation improves the off-shore water quality where it is farmed or harvested, as well as absorbing and sequestering carbon dioxide; 2) The fiber will be produced without the use of hazardous chemicals; 3) At the end of the fiber’s useful life, it can be readily broken down in composting facilities; and 4) If introduced into the environment, the fiber will not contribute to toxic micro-plastic or microfiber pollution. AlgiKnit has adjusted the fiber chemistry through the use of a range of additives designed to modify the traditional ionic crosslinking chemistry that has been used to create alginate fibers in the past. The performance window of alginate fibers has been expanded by potentially increasing the number of crosslinks between alginate polymer chains and the freedom of movement of the crosslink itself. To demonstrate feasibility, a preliminary study has shown promising improvements in fiber properties.

Sustainable textile fibers developed with biopolymers from kelp

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.