Revisiting the activity of two poly(vinyl chloride)- and polyethylene-degrading enzymes.

ABSTRACT: Biocatalytic degradation of non-hydrolyzable plastics is a rapidly growing field of research, driven by the global accumulation of waste. Enzymes capable of cleaving the carbon-carbon bonds in synthetic polymers are highly sought-after as they may provide tools for environmentally friendly plastic recycling. Despite some reports of oxidative enzymes acting on non-hydrolyzable plastics, including polyethylene or poly(vinyl chloride), the notion that these materials are susceptible to efficient enzymatic degradation remains controversial, partly driven by a general lack of studies independently reproducing previous observations. Here, we attempt to replicate two recent studies reporting that deconstruction of polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) can be achieved using an insect hexamerin fro

SUBMITTER: Stepnov AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11445424 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature