Identification and expression of novel polyester-degrading enzymes for application on mixed plastic-containing waste

Identification and expression of novel polyester-degrading enzymes for application on mixed plastic-containing waste
Authors: Chloé Allo, Klemens Kremser, Doris Ribitsch, Georg Gübitz

Presented at ECB 2024, 30 June - 3 July 2024, Rotterdam.

The MixMatters project develops an Integrated System to separate and valorise bio-waste and plastic fractions from the agri-food sector. This study focuses on the Valorisation Hub, where mixed waste streams, including plastic-contaminated fractions, are processed using enzymatic approaches.

Two novel polyester-degrading enzymes (Abc and Scc), identified from soil and wastewater metagenomes, were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and tested for their ability to hydrolyse plastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). These enzymes could enable the step-wise recovery of plastic monomers, opening new possibilities for sustainable plastic waste valorisation. Their performance will be further evaluated on plastic-organic mixed waste streams from MixMatters, with the aim of integrating enzymatic plastic recycling into industrial biorefinery processes.