Harnessing Colloidal Dispersion for Laccase-Driven Enzymatic Depolymerization of Polystyrene.

ABSTRACT: Polystyrene (PS) is one of the most widely used synthetic polymers, with annual global production of around 20 million tons. However, its robust C─C backbone renders it highly recalcitrant to (bio)chemical depolymerization, and no sustainable re-/up-cycling method has yet been developed. Here, we establish a proof-of-concept for the efficient depolymerization of PS under mild aqueous conditions, using a laccase-mediator system (LMS) composed of Trametes versicolor laccase, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT), and ambient oxygen. To overcome substrate accessibility issues, PS is formulated into colloidally stable nanoparticles, promoting interfacial remote biocatalysis. Under such conditions, up to 99.9% decrease in molar mass is achieved from an initial PS of over 2 million g mol^-1, sy

SUBMITTER: Pujol M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12759241 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature