Microalgae-Based Bioplastics Unlock a New Chapter in Biobased Materials Applications

SHENZHEN, [29 May 2025] – EUDE, a pioneer in biobased materials innovation, has announced a breakthrough in sustainable polymer technology with its development of spirulina-based bioplastics. The innovation, published in the top-tier journal Journal of Applied Polymer Science, addresses critical industry challenges: the non-degradability of traditional polyurethane materials and their heavy reliance on fossil fuels.

Technical Breakthrough: Transforming Spirulina into High-Performance Bioplastics

EUDE’s R&D team has developed a simple, green method to convert spirulina powder into high-performance bioplastics through an efficient supramolecular self-assembly protocol, which highlights the α-β structural transformation of the microalgal proteins. 

• Supramolecular self-assembly induced by polyethylene glycol, combined with thermal stress-triggered protein α-β phase transition, enhancing the mechanical properties and processing compatibility of the microalgae.

• Mechanism verification: The  α-β phase transition forms more β-sheet structures (confirmed via XRD/FITR), strengthening hydrogen bonding networks within the material to  improve dispersibility and interfacial compatibility.

Performance Enhancement in EUDE FOAM® System

Integrating the bioplastics into flexible polyurethane foam (EUDE FOAM®) achieves:
✅ 30% increase in tensile strength (0.22 MPa vs. 0.17 MPa)
✅ 13% increase in compressive strength (144 kPa vs. 127 kPa)
✅ 11% improvement in impact energy absorption

✅ Significantly enhanced thermal stability (DSC/TGA shows 64% reduction in decomposition enthalpy)

Academic and Industrial Significance

• Academic innovation:  First application of protein α-β phase transition mechanism in microalgae-based  plastics, offering new insights for microstructure regulation of biopolymers.

• Industrial potential:  Targeting eco-friendly high-value applications (e.g., sports protective foams), the technology uses renewable, low-cost spirulina as raw material, providing a closed-loop solution for the circular economy.

EUDE’s Technological Ecosystem

As a leader in biobased materials, EUDE has established a comprehensive R&D and industrial application system:

• Owns numerous independent intellectual property rights, including the EUDE FOAM® material technology.

• Focuses on impact protection  solutions, covering the entire value chain from research & design to production and application.

• Continues to explore high-value utilization paths for biobased materials with microalgae as the core raw material.

• Promotes open collaboration with research institutes and industry experts to expand material application boundaries.

Journal Citation

The research was published in Journal of Applied Polymer Science (DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/app.57411), a top journal in polymer science with:

• Academic influence: Ranked 5th in  total citations in the ISI polymer science category, exceeding 59,000 citations and 1.9 million downloads annually.

• Professional recognition: Impact  factor of 3.0, covering the full spectrum of polymer applications and  widely recognized by both academics and companies.

Keywords: Biopolymers & Renewable Polymers, Proteins, Self-Assembly, Structure-Performance Relationships, Supramolecular Structure

For more information, visit https://cn.eudeprotect.com.