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

Abid, Umer; Sun, Gordon; Soong, Ya-Hue Valerie; Williams, Alexandria; Chang, Allen C.; Ayafor, Christian; Patel, Akanksha; Wong, Hsi-Wu; Sobkowicz, Margaret J.; Xie, Dongming

doi:10.1016/j.bej.2023.109074

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

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2023.109074· OSTI ID:2429441

^[1]; Sun, Gordon ^[2]; Soong, Ya-Hue Valerie ^[3]; Williams, Alexandria ^[3]; Chang, Allen C. ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[3]; ^[3]; Sobkowicz, Margaret J. ^[3]; ^[3]

University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States); UMass Lowell
Tenafly High School, NJ (United States)
University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA (United States)

Millions of tons of waste polyester plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), end up in the environment as soil and water contaminants. Recent advances in enzymatic polyester degradation have motivated researchers toward biorecycling of plastic wastes. Leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) enzymes have been proven to be effective in the biodegradation of PET. This study focuses on enzymatic depolymerization of waste PET, PTT, and PBT materials by using an ICCG variant of LCC (LCC^ICCG) produced from Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The degradation efficiency of the polyesters was determined by the monomer terephthalic acid (TPA) released from the depolymerization reaction. It was found that the most efficient depolymerization was achieved for PET, followed by PTT and PBT. A kinetic model based on Langmuir adsorption and the Michaelis-Menten equation was developed to describe the enzymatic depolymerization of PET, PTT, and PBT with various enzyme and substrate loadings. The model simulation results revealed that the LCCICCG enzyme loading should be linearly increased as the work capacity of the polyester substrate increases. A specific enzyme loading of 0.91 mg/g PET is suggested to achieve 90% depolymerization of PET within three days. Furthermore, the experimental data and model simulation results can be used to help further engineer the enzyme and process to achieve a complete biodegradation of polyester wastes at large scale.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008930

OSTI ID:: 2429441

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1997581

Journal Information:: Biochemical Engineering Journal, Journal Name: Biochemical Engineering Journal Vol. 199; ISSN 1369-703X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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