We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastics with embedded particles decompose in days instead of years
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a novel 'self-digesting' plastic by embedding plastic-eating enzymes inside the polymer during manufacturing, allowing it to degrade within days under industrial composting conditions rather than years. This approach could help solve the microplastic problem by making plastic biodegradation faster and more complete.
“Biodegradable” plastics exist, but they’re not so great at biodegrading. These polymers often take months or years to decompose, and even then can form potentially harmful microplastics. Scientists have now been able to speed up the process by encasing plastic-chomping enzymes in a protective coating and incorporating the resulting nanoparticles into the plastic as it’s made ( Nature 2021, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03408-3 ). Exposure to humidity and temperatures of 40–60 °C unleashes the enzymes, which decompose the polymers into monomer to trimer units in hours to days. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic acid (PLA) are both biodegradable plastics, used for food containers, biomedical applications, and biodegradable dog-poop bags. But these polymers degrade readily only at the high temperatures found in industrial composting facilities. Ting Xu , a chemical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, and her team from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the University of Massachusetts, and UC Berkeley wanted to
More Papers Like This
Near-complete depolymerization of polyesters with nano-dispersed enzymes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a method to embed tiny enzyme particles inside biodegradable plastics, enabling the plastics to break down almost completely in ordinary compost and tap water within days. This approach achieved up to 98% conversion of the plastic back to small molecules, avoiding the creation of microplastic fragments that occur with conventional degradation. The technology could help solve the microplastic pollution problem by ensuring that biodegradable plastics actually decompose fully rather than fragmenting into harmful microplastic particles.
Embedding an esterase mimic inside polyesters to realize rapid and complete degradation without compromising their utility
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed an innovative approach to accelerating plastic degradation by embedding a molecular mimic of the enzyme esterase directly inside a biodegradable polyester material. This allowed the plastic to break down rapidly and completely during composting without compromising its performance during normal use. The study presents a practical strategy for managing post-consumer biodegradable plastics and improving composting efficiency.
Enzymatic Self-Biodegradation of Poly(l-lactic acid) Films by Embedded Heat-Treated and Immobilized Proteinase K
AI summary Read the abstract
Polylactic acid plastic films containing embedded enzyme proteinase K successfully biodegraded from the inside out, losing 78% of their weight in four days. Immobilizing the enzyme improved its heat stability during manufacturing, offering a new concept for self-biodegrading plastics that could reduce microplastic accumulation in the environment.
Enzyme-embedded polyesters for accelerated biodegradation in the deep sea.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers embedded enzymes into compostable plastics and tested them in coastal seawater and deep-sea locations down to 5,503 meters. The enzyme-embedded plastics broke down much faster than regular versions, reaching near-complete degradation at 757 meters within 5 months, while keeping similar strength to plastics without enzymes.
Embedded Enzyme Nanoclusters Depolymerize Polyesters via Chain-End Mediated Processive Degradation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers designed enzyme-embedded polymer materials where PET-degrading enzymes are incorporated as nanoclusters that degrade the polymer from chain ends in a processive manner. This approach enables programmable material lifecycle management, building plastic degradation capability directly into manufactured materials.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.