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From Plastic Waste to Plastic Valuable Materials — Polymer Recycling Rethought
Original title: Von Plastikmüll zu Plastikwertstoffen — Polymerrecycling neu gedacht
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This German-language review discusses the global plastic crisis and presents a new value chain for plastic waste developed under the EU P4SB project, which applies biotechnology to convert plastics into biodegradable polyester. Researchers outline a concept for using engineered microorganisms to upcycle plastic waste into high-value bio-based materials. The paper presents an innovative approach to tackling the end-of-life plastic problem.
Abstract The ever increasing plastic production and the challenges of low recycling quota, microplastic and plastic in the ocean is summarized as plastic crisis, asking for new technology for end-of-life polymer use. We present a value chain for plastic waste developed in the EU project P 4 SB. Plastic is hydrolysed to its monomers by engineered enzymes and the monomers are the feedstock for engineered microbes to synthesise products of value. This upcycling adds incentives for increased polymer recycling.
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