Advances in enzymatic and organismal technologies for the recycling and upcycling of petroleum-derived plastic waste

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2023 Nov 17;84:103021. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103021. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBiological catalysts are emerging with the capability to depolymerize a wide variety of plastics. Improving and discovering these catalysts has leveraged a range of tools, including microbial ecology studies, high-throughput selections, and computationally guided mutational studies. In this review, we discuss the prospects for biological solutions to plastic recycling and upcycling with a focus on major advances in polyethylene terephthalate depolymerization, expanding the range of polymers with known biological catalysts, and the utilization of derived products. We highlight several recent improvements in enzymes and reaction properties, the discovery of a wide variety of novel plastic-depolymerizing biocatalysts, and how depolymerization products can be utilized in recycling and upcycling.PMID:37980777 | DOI:10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103021

Source: Current Opinion in Biotechnology - November 19, 2023 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Daniel J Acosta Hal S Alper Source Type: research