We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Composting-based degradation of poly (ethylene terephthalate) microplastics and its enhancement with exogenous PET hydrolase supplementation
Summary
Researchers tested whether PET microplastic degradation could be enhanced during high-temperature composting by adding exogenous thermophilic PET hydrolase enzyme, finding that after 20 days, PET weight was reduced by 21.1% without enzyme and 32.8% with enzyme addition. Enzyme-enhanced composting offers a promising approach for degrading PET microplastics in solid waste treatment.
Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) constitutes an important composition of environmental microplastics (MPs). This study was to explore the degradation of PET MPs in high-temperature composting and also to make an attempt for an enhanced degradation by exogenous addition of thermophilic PET hydrolase. Herein, six 220 L composters were applied to perform the composting, with half designated enhanced group with PET hydrolase added. After 20 days, PET MPs exhibited a notable reduction (21.1%) in weight and the addition of PET hydrolase resulted in 32.8% reduction of PET MPs. This is also corroborated by the increase of terephthalic acid (one of PET degradation products) from 2.0μg/g sample in initial mixture to 3.7μg/g sample in composting group and 9.3μg/g sample in enhanced group. Besides, the particle size distribution of PET MPs shifted toward smaller sizes after composting, with the supplementation of PET hydrolase further accentuating this shift. After composting, the surface of PET MPs in both treatments exhibited conspicuous corrosion and oxidation. An analysis of publicly available compost metagenomes indicated the wide distribution of potential PET hydrolase and TPA 1,2-dioxygenase genes. These findings suggest that composting exhibited a noticeable performance in the degradation of PET MPs and enzyme-assisted composting enhanced the degradation, providing a new approach for addressing environmental microplastics pollution.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Hydrolase and plastic-degrading microbiota explain degradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics during high-temperature composting
Researchers tested a PET-degrading enzyme (WCCG) in high-temperature composting and found that adding the enzyme achieved 35% PET degradation, while native plastic-degrading microbiota alone (including Acinetobacter and Bacillus) reduced PET by 26%, suggesting both enzymatic and microbial approaches can address PET microplastic pollution.
Enzymatic Degradation of PET plastic
This study tested commercial-grade enzymes for degrading PET plastic and found that enzymatic degradation was effective at laboratory scale but faced challenges for real-world application. Scaling up enzymatic PET recycling could reduce the persistence of plastic waste that eventually fragments into microplastics in the environment.
Biodegradation of Plastic and the Role of Microbial Enzymes in Plastic Waste Management
This review examines how microbial enzymes, particularly PET hydrolases and oxidative enzymes, can depolymerize and break down common plastic polymers through biological degradation. The study suggests that enzymatic approaches to plastic waste management offer a promising complement to mechanical and chemical recycling, though optimizing enzyme activity and scaling up the process remain key challenges.
Current Knowledge on Polyethylene Terephthalate Degradation by Genetically Modified Microorganisms
This review covers genetically modified microorganisms engineered to degrade polyethylene terephthalate, examining how bioengineering of enzymes such as PETase and enhanced expression systems can overcome the low biodegradation rates of wild-type microorganisms toward this ubiquitous plastic.
An efficient strategy to tailor PET hydrolase: Simple preparation with high yield and enhanced hydrolysis to micro-nano plastics
This study developed a simplified, high-yield preparation method for PET-degrading hydrolase enzymes to improve their ability to break down PET nano- and microplastics. The engineered enzyme showed enhanced hydrolysis activity against PET microplastics, offering a more practical route to enzymatic plastic waste treatment.