Analytical methods for the investigation of enzyme-catalyzed degradation of polyethylene terephthalate.

ABSTRACT: The polyester PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)) plastic is chemically inert and remarkably persistent, posing relevant and global pollution concerns due to its accumulation in ecosystems across the globe. In past years, research focused on identifying bacteria active on PET and on the specific enzymes responsible for its degradation. Here, the enzymatic degradation of PET can be considered as an 'erosion process' that takes place on the surface of an insoluble material and results in an unusual, substrate-limited kinetic condition. In this review, we report on the most suitable models to evaluate the kinetics of PET-hydrolyzing enzymes, which takes into consideration the amount of enzyme adsorbed on the substrate, the enzyme-accessible ester bonds, and the product inhibition effects. Care

SUBMITTER: Pirillo V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8453989 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature