Cutinase-Catalyzed Polyester-Polyurethane Degradation: Elucidation of the Hydrolysis Mechanism.

ABSTRACT: Polyurethanes (PU) are one of the most-used classes of synthetic polymers in Europe, having a considerable impact on the plastic waste management in the European Union. Therefore, they represent a major challenge for the recycling industry, which requires environmentally friendly strategies to be able to re-utilize their monomers without applying hazardous and polluting substances in the process. In this work, enzymatic hydrolysis of a polyurethane-polyester (PU-PE) copolymer using Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC) has been investigated in order to achieve decomposition at milder conditions and avoiding harsh chemicals. PU-PE films have been incubated with the enzyme at 50 °C for 168 h, and hydrolysis has been followed throughout the incubation. HiC effectively hydrolysed the polymer, reduc

SUBMITTER: Di Bisceglie F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8838978 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature