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Microbial Genes for a Circular and Sustainable Bio-PET Economy
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This review examined the microbial genes and enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and related polyesters, discussing how these biological systems could underpin a circular bio-PET economy where degradation products serve as feedstocks for new polymer synthesis.
Plastics have become an important environmental concern due to their durability and resistance to degradation. Out of all plastic materials, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are amenable to biological degradation due to the action of microbial polyester hydrolases. The hydrolysis products obtained from PET can thereby be used for the synthesis of novel PET as well as become a potential carbon source for microorganisms. In addition, microorganisms and biomass can be used for the synthesis of the constituent monomers of PET from renewable sources. The combination of both biodegradation and biosynthesis would enable a completely circular bio-PET economy beyond the conventional recycling processes. Circular strategies like this could contribute to significantly decreasing the environmental impact of our dependence on this polymer. Here we review the efforts made towards turning PET into a viable feedstock for microbial transformations. We highlight current bottlenecks in degradation of the polymer and metabolism of the monomers, and we showcase fully biological or semisynthetic processes leading to the synthesis of PET from sustainable substrates.
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Genes for a Circular and Sustainable Bio-PET Economy
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This review examines the genetics of enzymes that can biodegrade PET plastic, exploring how genetic engineering could accelerate the development of organisms capable of breaking down plastic waste. Enzymatic degradation of PET could help address plastic pollution including plastic bottles that break down into microplastics.
Microbial Degradation of PET Plastic Sustainably Yielding Commercially Viable Products
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This review summarizes research on microbial degradation of PET plastic and how the breakdown products could be valorized into commercially useful bioproducts. Converting PET waste biologically into valuable chemicals offers a more sustainable alternative to landfilling or incineration.
Metabolic and enzymatic engineering strategies for polyethylene terephthalate degradation and valorization
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Researchers reviewed metabolic and enzymatic engineering strategies for breaking down PET plastic waste, highlighting advances in engineered PETase enzymes and microbial pathways that could enable cost-effective biological recycling of the roughly 29 million metric tons of PET produced annually.
Enzymatic PET Degradation
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This review examines enzymatic degradation of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the plastic used in bottles and polyester clothing, as a promising pathway for breaking down this persistent polymer. Advances in engineering more efficient PET-degrading enzymes could enable industrial-scale biological recycling and reduce the environmental accumulation of PET microplastics.
Microbial enzymes for the recycling of recalcitrant petroleum‐based plastics: how far are we?
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This review examines the progress in identifying microbial enzymes capable of breaking down petroleum-based plastics like polyethylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, and PET. Researchers highlight recent advances in using polyester-degrading enzymes to recover raw materials from PET waste through biocatalytic recycling. The study discusses the potential and remaining challenges of using biological approaches to address the growing global problem of plastic waste accumulation.
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.