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Biodepolymerization of Polyamide Fibers Using Yarrowia lipolytica as Whole-Cell Biocatalyst
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This research demonstrates that the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica can enzymatically break down polyamide fibers, a major component of synthetic textiles often implicated in microplastic pollution. The findings open a potential biological route for degrading nylon-based materials that are otherwise highly persistent in the environment.
Polyamide is a thermoplastic polymer widely used for several applications, including cables in offshore oil and gas operations. Due to its growing annual production worldwide, this poorly biodegradable material has been a source of pollution. Given this scenario, the need has arisen to develop environmentally friendly techniques to degrade this waste, and biotechnology has emerged as a possible solution to mitigate this problem. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Yarrowia lipolytica to biodepolymerize polyamide fibers (PAF). Microbial cultures were grown in shaken flasks containing different concentrations of PAF (0.5 and 2 g·L−1) and in a bioreactor with and without pH adjustment. PAF mass loss was up to 16.8%, achieved after 96 h of cultivation in a bioreactor without pH adjustment. Additionally, NMR analyses revealed that the amorphous regions of PAF, which are more susceptible to depolymerization, were reduced by 6% during cultivation. These preliminary results indicate the biotechnological potential of Y. lipolytica to depolymerize PAF.
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Researchers pre-treated low-density polyethylene with physicochemical methods before exposing it to the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, finding that pre-treatment reduced molecular weight by roughly 9% and enabled effective microbial attachment, though biological degradation alone achieved only modest further breakdown.
Microbial Bioconversion of Polypropylene by Yarrowia Lipolytica: Enhancing Bioconversion and Lipogenesis through Optimization of Fermentation Parameters
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This review covers methods for recycling and breaking down polyamide (nylon), a widely used engineering plastic whose growing production is creating serious pollution problems. Understanding how nylon degrades is relevant to the microplastics issue because polyamide fibers are one of the most common types of microplastics found in water, soil, and even human tissues.
Universal Approach for the Depolymerization of Polyamides via Photothermal Conversion
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Researchers developed a photothermal depolymerization method using carbon black as a light-absorbing agent under visible light to break down multiple polyamide types — including post-consumer waste — achieving monomer yields up to 97% in under an hour, with pigment-containing black plastics serving as their own photothermal agents.
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This study examined the hydrolytic degradation of different polyamide (nylon) types under various environmental conditions. Understanding how nylon degrades is relevant to microplastics research, as nylon fishing gear and synthetic textiles are significant sources of microplastic fibers in aquatic environments.
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