Effects of Copolymer Structure on Enzyme-Catalyzed Polyester Recycling

Patel, Akanksha; Chang, Allen C.; Abid, Umer; Ayafor, Christian; Wong, Hsi-Wu; Xie, Dongming; Sobkowicz, Margaret J.

doi:10.1007/s10924-024-03223-7

Effects of Copolymer Structure on Enzyme-Catalyzed Polyester Recycling

Journal Article · Mon Mar 04 04:00:00 EST 2024 · Journal of Polymers and the Environment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-024-03223-7· OSTI ID:2429414

Patel, Akanksha ^[1]; Chang, Allen C. ^[2]; Abid, Umer ^[2]; Ayafor, Christian ^[2]; Wong, Hsi-Wu ^[2]; Xie, Dongming ^[2]; ^[2]

University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States); University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States)

Polyesters are an omnipresent material used for a variety of applications (e.g., bottles, packaging, textile, windshield), roughly comprising 8% of plastics produced worldwide. Enzymatic recycling is an emerging solution to deal with the increasingly diverse polyesters that are not suitable for mechanical recycling. However, enzyme activity and efficiency are still the limiting factors impeding enzymatic recycling for different plastic waste forms. The effects of thermal and structural properties (e.g., glass transition temperature, crystallinity, specific surface area), which are determined by chemical composition and preprocessing, directly influence enzyme recycling efficiency. This work investigates two extrusion methods (single screw and twin-screw extrusion) to pretreat a range of copolyesters (RPET, PETG, Ecozen, Tritan and PBT) and modify their properties (i.e., glass transition temperature (T_g), crystallinity (%), and molecular weight (M_n)). A PET-specific enzyme, leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC^ICCG), produced from a fed-batch fermentation of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), was used for the enzymatic depolymerization of different polyesters. Several copolyesters showed improved depolymerization after pretreatment, as measured by rate and amount of monomers produced. Furthermore, those that did not depolymerize were found to have exceptionally high glass transition temperature or percent crystallinity, highlighting the importance of these physical parameters on conversion efficiency.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008930

OSTI ID:: 2429414

Journal Information:: Journal of Polymers and the Environment, Journal Name: Journal of Polymers and the Environment Vol. 32; ISSN 1566-2543

Publisher:: Springer NatureCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (45)

Branching Regulation in Olefin Polymerization via Lewis Acid Triggered Isomerization of Monomers Basbug Alhan, Hatice E.; Jones, Glen R.; Harth, Eva Angewandte Chemie, Vol. 132, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.201914742	journal	February 2020
Hydrolytic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) Hosseini, Seyed Saeid; Taheri, Somaye; Zadhoush, Ali Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 103, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/app.24142	journal	November 2006
Enzyme selection, optimization, and production toward biodegradation of post‐consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) at scale Soong, Ya‐Hue Valerie; Abid, Umer; Chang, Allen C. Biotechnology Journal https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.202300119	journal	August 2023
Acceleration of Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) by Surface Coating with Anionic Surfactants Furukawa, Makoto; Kawakami, Norifumi; Oda, Kohei ChemSusChem, Vol. 11, Issue 23 https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201802096	journal	November 2018
Understanding Consequences and Tradeoffs of Melt Processing as a Pretreatment for Enzymatic Depolymerization of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Chang, Allen C.; Patel, Akanksha; Perry, Sarah Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol. 43, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202100929	journal	March 2022
Studies on degradation of PET in mechanical recycling Frounchi, Masoud Macromolecular Symposia, Vol. 144, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/masy.19991440142	journal	October 1999
Effects of ultrahigh speed twin screw extrusion on the thermal and mechanical degradation of polystyrene Farahanchi, Azadeh; Malloy, Robert; Sobkowicz, Margaret J. Polymer Engineering & Science, Vol. 56, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.24301	journal	March 2016
A novel extrusion process for the production of polymer micropellets Schäfer, Christian; Meyer, Stefan P.; Osswald, Tim A. Polymer Engineering & Science, Vol. 58, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.24847	journal	March 2018
Influence of molecular weight and degree of crosslinking on the specific volume and glass temperature of polymers Fox, T. G.; Loshaek, S. Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. 15, Issue 80 https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.1955.120158006	journal	February 1955
Crystallization behavior and melting properties of m-phenylene group containing polyesters Conix, A.; Van Kerpel, R. Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. 40, Issue 137 https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.1959.1204013720	journal	November 1959
Current knowledge on enzymatic PET degradation and its possible application to waste stream management and other fields Kawai, Fusako; Kawabata, Takeshi; Oda, Masayuki Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol. 103, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-019-09717-y	journal	April 2019
Polyethylene terephthalate—I. Chemistry, thermodynamics and transport properties Ravindranath, K.; Mashelkar, R. A. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 41, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(86)85070-9	journal	January 1986
A suspension-based assay and comparative detection methods for characterization of polyethylene terephthalate hydrolases Arnling Bååth, Jenny; Borch, Kim; Westh, Peter Analytical Biochemistry, Vol. 607 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ab.2020.113873	journal	October 2020
Evaluation of enzymatic depolymerization of PET, PTT, and PBT polyesters Abid, Umer; Sun, Gordon; Soong, Ya-Hue Valerie Biochemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 199 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2023.109074	journal	October 2023
Recycling of PET Awaja, Firas; Pavel, Dumitru European Polymer Journal, Vol. 41, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2005.02.005	journal	July 2005
Poly(alkylene terephthalate)s: From current developments in synthetic strategies towards applications De Vos, Lobke; Van de Voorde, Babs; Van Daele, Lenny European Polymer Journal, Vol. 161 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110840	journal	December 2021
Lack of androgenicity and estrogenicity of the three monomers used in Eastman’s Tritan™ copolyesters Osimitz, Thomas G.; Eldridge, Melanie L.; Sloter, Eddie Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol. 50, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.02.010	journal	June 2012
Production of a sustainable paving material through chemical recycling of waste PET into crumb rubber modified asphalt Leng, Zhen; Padhan, Rabindra Kumar; Sreeram, Anand Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 180 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.171	journal	April 2018
Enzymatic hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate films in an ultrafiltration membrane reactor Barth, Markus; Wei, Ren; Oeser, Thorsten Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 494 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2015.07.030	journal	November 2015
Kinetic analysis and modelling of PET macromolecular changes during its mechanical recycling by extrusion Nait-Ali, Linda K.; Colin, Xavier; Bergeret, Anne Polymer Degradation and Stability, Vol. 96, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.11.004	journal	February 2011
Irreversible structural changes during PET recycling by extrusion Assadi, R.; Colin, X.; Verdu, J. Polymer, Vol. 45, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2004.04.029	journal	June 2004
Aqueous buffer solution-induced crystallization competes with enzymatic depolymerization of pre-treated post-consumer poly (ethylene terephthalate) waste Patel, Akanksha; Chang, Allen C.; Mastromonaco, Abigail Polymer, Vol. 285, 126370 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2023.126370	journal	October 2023
United States plastics: Large flows, short lifetimes, and negligible recycling Di, Jinghan; Reck, Barbara K.; Miatto, Alessio Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol. 167 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105440	journal	April 2021
Closing the loop for PET, PE and PP waste from households: Influence of material properties and product design for plastic recycling Eriksen, M. K.; Christiansen, J. D.; Daugaard, A. E. Waste Management, Vol. 96 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.07.005	journal	August 2019
Particle Size Reduction of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Increases the Rate of Enzymatic Depolymerization But Does Not Increase the Overall Conversion Extent Brizendine, Richard K.; Erickson, Erika; Haugen, Stefan J. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 10, Issue 28 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c01961	journal	July 2022
Melt Processing Pretreatment Effects on Enzymatic Depolymerization of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Patel, Akanksha; Chang, Allen C.; Perry, Sarah ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 10, Issue 41 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c03142	journal	October 2022
Circular Economy Sustainability Analysis Framework for Plastics: Application for Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) Gracida-Alvarez, Ulises R.; Xu, Hui; Benavides, Pahola Thathiana ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 11, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c04626	journal	January 2023
Recent Developments in the Chemical Recycling of Postconsumer Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Waste George, Neena; Kurian, Thomas Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 53, Issue 37 https://doi.org/10.1021/ie501995m	journal	September 2014
High Impact, Amorphous Terephthalate Copolyesters of Rigid 2,2,4,4-Tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol with Flexible Diols Kelsey, Donald R.; Scardino, Betty M.; Grebowicz, Janusz S. Macromolecules, Vol. 33, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1021/ma000223+	journal	July 2000
Enzymatic Surface Hydrolysis of PET: Effect of Structural Diversity on Kinetic Properties of Cutinases from Thermobifida Herrero Acero, Enrique; Ribitsch, Doris; Steinkellner, Georg Macromolecules, Vol. 44, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1021/ma200949p	journal	June 2011
Synthesis and Characteristics of a Biobased High-T_g Terpolyester of Isosorbide, Ethylene Glycol, and 1,4-Cyclohexane Dimethanol: Effect of Ethylene Glycol as a Chain Linker on Polymerization Yoon, Won Jae; Hwang, Sung Yeon; Koo, Jun Mo Macromolecules, Vol. 46, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1021/ma4015092	journal	September 2013
Toxicology: The plastics puzzle Glausiusz, Josie Nature, Vol. 508, Issue 7496 https://doi.org/10.1038/508306a	journal	April 2014
An engineered PET depolymerase to break down and recycle plastic bottles Tournier, V.; Topham, C. M.; Gilles, A. Nature, Vol. 580, Issue 7802 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2149-4	journal	April 2020
Machine learning-aided engineering of hydrolases for PET depolymerization Lu, Hongyuan; Diaz, Daniel J.; Czarnecki, Natalie J. Nature, Vol. 604, Issue 7907 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04599-z	journal	April 2022
Aliphatic polyester polymer stars: synthesis, properties and applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology Cameron, Donald J. A.; Shaver, Michael P. Chem. Soc. Rev., Vol. 40, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1039/C0CS00091D	journal	January 2011
Characterization and engineering of a plastic-degrading aromatic polyesterase Austin, Harry P.; Allen, Mark D.; Donohoe, Bryon S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 115, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1718804115	journal	April 2018
Characterization and engineering of a two-enzyme system for plastics depolymerization Knott, Brandon C.; Erickson, Erika; Allen, Mark D. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 117, Issue 41 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2006753117	journal	September 2020
Biochemical and structural characterization of an aromatic ring–hydroxylating dioxygenase for terephthalic acid catabolism Kincannon, William M.; Zahn, Michael; Clare, Rita Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 119, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121426119	journal	March 2022
Polyester: A Cultural History Smelik, Anneke Fashion Practice, Vol. 15, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/17569370.2023.2196158	journal	May 2023
Hydrolytic Depolymerization of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Waste at High Temperature Under Autogenous Pressure Goje, A. S.; Thakur, S. A.; Diware, V. R. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, Vol. 43, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1081/PPT-200030031	journal	January 2004
A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate) Yoshida, Shosuke; Hiraga, Kazumi; Takehana, Toshihiko Science, Vol. 351, Issue 6278 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad6359	journal	March 2016
New Insights into the Function and Global Distribution of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)-Degrading Bacteria and Enzymes in Marine and Terrestrial Metagenomes Danso, Dominik; Schmeisser, Christel; Chow, Jennifer Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 84, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02773-17	journal	February 2018
Biodegradation of Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters by Thermomonospora fusca and Other Thermophilic Compost Isolates Kleeberg, Ilona; Hetz, Claudia; Kroppenstedt, Reiner Michael Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 64, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.64.5.1731-1735.1998	journal	May 1998
What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 Kaza, Silpa; Yao, Lisa C.; Bhada-Tata, Perinaz https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1329-0	book	September 2018
Recent Advances in Biological Recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Wastes Soong, Ya-Hue Valerie; Sobkowicz, Margaret J.; Xie, Dongming Bioengineering, Vol. 9, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9030098	journal	February 2022

Similar Records

Evaluation of enzymatic depolymerization of PET, PTT, and PBT polyesters

Journal Article · Sat Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Biochemical Engineering Journal · OSTI ID:2429441

Enzymatic depolymerization of polyester: Foaming as a pretreatment to increase specific surface area

Journal Article · Thu Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Journal of Applied Polymer Science · OSTI ID:2439812

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Crystallinity
Environmental Chemistry
Glass Transition Temperature
LCCICCG Enzyme
Polyester
Polymers
Recycling

Effects of Copolymer Structure on Enzyme-Catalyzed Polyester Recycling

Citation Formats

References (45)

Similar Records

Related Subjects