Rapid depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) thin films by a dual-enzyme system and its impact on material properties.

ABSTRACT: Enzymatic hydrolysis holds great promise for plastic waste recycling and upcycling. The interfacial catalysis mode, and the variability of polymer specimen properties under different degradation conditions, add to the complexity and difficulty of understanding polymer cleavage and engineering better biocatalysts. We present a systemic approach to studying the enzyme-catalyzed surface erosion of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) while monitoring/controlling operating conditions in real time with simultaneous detection of mass loss and changes in viscoelastic behavior. PET nanofilms placed on water showed a porous morphology and a thickness-dependent glass transition temperature (T_g) between 40°C and 44°C, which is >20°C lower than the T_g of bulk amorphou

SUBMITTER: Tarazona NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10284027 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature