UNSW tests textile solution with wastewater algae, partnering with Sydney Water and Pacific Bio to turn algae harvested during treatment into a natural binder for discarded fabrics.
Algae biomass repurposed as natural binder
The project builds on an algae-based trial at Sydney Water’s Picton Water Resource Recovery Facility, where native green macroalgae are added in the final treatment stage to strip nitrogen and phosphorus.
As the algae grow, they absorb nutrients and generate a harvestable organic mass. Project leaders say this biomass could serve purposes beyond water purification.
“The opportunity is to look at this algae biomass not as an end product of wastewater treatment, but as the starting point for something else,” said research officer Mariëtte van Bueren of UNSW’s School of Chemistry.
Pacific Bio supplies its RegenAqua technology, which cultivates the macroalgae and harvests the resulting organic matter for further study.
Researchers are converting the harvested algae into a binder that behaves like a glue or resin. Early tests mix this binder with shredded textile fibers and other under-utilised inputs.
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Evaluating Algae-Based Binders and Community Production Plans
The team is testing whether algae biomass can serve as a natural binder that replaces fossil-fuel-based alternatives in many manufacturing sectors. Their initial approach emphasizes thoroughly understanding the material’s strengths and weaknesses before advancing to larger-scale trials. If successful, the binder could replace petroleum-based glues in diverse product lines.
The vision includes enabling local communities to convert underutilised algae into valuable products rather than shipping raw material long distances. This localized approach is described as a simpler, more circular form of recycling. Van Bueren’s research builds on her Master of Philosophy at UNSW, where she studied seaweed valorisation. She conducted the work under the supervision of Associate Professor Patrick Spicer and Associate Professor Anna Wang.
Testing the binder with mixed textiles
Australia discards over 300,000 tonnes of clothing each year, sending much to landfill or overseas. Mixed fabrics, dyes, and hardware make conventional recycling difficult.
Van Bueren notes that textiles contain a range of chemicals, including PFAS, glues, and dyes, which must be removed before the material can be safely re-used.
The team is exploring processing methods that tolerate a wide variety of mixed fibers, aiming to avoid the need for perfectly sorted streams.
Scaling and future development
Local-scale conversion concepts are being mapped for councils and remote utilities that generate modest amounts of algae biomass. Small modular units could accept feedstock directly from treatment facilities, produce the resin on site, and feed it into nearby manufacturing operations, thereby cutting transport distances.