Work

Evaluation of Pretreatment Strategies and Combinations of Enzymes for Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used thermoplastic polymers, renowned for its exceptional physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, making it a popular choice for various applications. On the other hand, PET is a major part of plastic waste, and therefore, research devoted to PET degradation is at the forefront of developing recycling methods. This fundamental study focuses on the enzymatic degradation of model substrate PET using a range of established cutinases (PHL‐7, HiC, LCC WT , and LCC ICCG ) alongside IsPETase under varying conditions. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted to investigate the impact of reaction temperatures, polymer pretreatment methods, and dual‐enzyme systems on enhancing PET biodegradation. The pretreatment techniques employed, targeting crystallinity reduction, enzymatic adsorption, and exchange‐surface modifications, proved pivotal in accelerating the degradation process and improving the yield of PET monomers. The novelty of this work lies in systematically studying the effects of combined pretreatment strategies on enzymatic PET degradation. Furthermore, the integration of multiple enzymes enhances the overall efficiency of PET hydrolysis. These findings provide a comparative framework that integrates enzyme performance with pretreatment effects.

Source: Journal of Polymer Science

DOI: 10.1002/pol.20250254

Authors: Sukmanita Dewi, Tobias Horbach, Tabea Neumann, Karl‐Erich Jaeger, Wolfgang Streit, Laura Hartmann

Institutions: University of Freiburg, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universität Hamburg

Language: English

Topic: Polymer crystallization and properties

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,380