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Bio- and chemocatalysis cascades as a bridge between biology and chemistry for green polymer synthesis
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This chemistry paper describes cascades of biological and chemical catalysts working together to achieve sustainable synthesis of complex molecules. It is an organic chemistry study with no connection to environmental microplastic research.
The development and integration of bio- and chemocatalytic processes to convert renewable or biomass feedstocks into polymers is a vibrant field of research with enormous potential for environmental protection and the mitigation of global warming. Here, we review the biotechnological and chemical synthetic strategies for producing platform monomers from bio-based sources and transforming them into eco-polymers. We also discuss their advanced bio-application using the example of polylactide (PLA), the most valuable green polymer on the market.
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Researchers developed a photoelectrochemical system that uses PET microplastics as an electron source to power redox enzyme-driven biosynthetic reactions, achieving turnover numbers up to 362,000 for useful organic chemical transformations. This approach simultaneously degrades non-recyclable plastic waste and produces value-added chemicals, demonstrating a dual-benefit strategy that could incentivize microplastic remediation by converting pollution into a productive feedstock.
Green Chemistry Principles In Biopolymer Synthesis
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This review synthesises green chemistry strategies applied to biopolymer synthesis — including renewable feedstocks, benign solvents, enzyme catalysis, and energy-efficient processes — evaluating how biopolymers derived from natural or biological sources can serve as sustainable alternatives to conventional fossil-based plastics.
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Green Chemistry Strategies for Mitigating Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments
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Researchers investigated the characterisation and optimisation of enzymatic biocatalysts capable of degrading synthetic plastics, addressing the limitations of conventional mechanical recycling that has proven largely ineffective at curbing plastic and microplastic accumulation in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The work explores how enzyme engineering and directed evolution can improve the efficiency of biological plastic breakdown as a pathway toward circular plastic recycling.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.