Using enzymes and reaction engineering to modify PET depolymerization
Polymers are from great importance in the various applications. This results in a large ampunts of plastic waste. The main contributer is polyethylene terepthalate (PET) due to its wide applicability. Thus, recycling strategies are being highly researched, with the aim to make the re-synthesis of PET without any significant loss in product property possible and to close the carbon cycles.
The research often focuses on full hydrolysis of PET to terephthalic acid (TA) and ethylene glycol (EG). But the partial hydrolysis of PET to to mono(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET) and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) represents are more economic alternativ.
The research groups of CDS member Prof. Jan von Langermann and Prof. Christof Hamel, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg together with Prof. Uwe Bornscheuer and Dr. Ren Wei, University Greifswald, investigate possibilities to alter the product profile during enzymatic PET depolymerization by controlling selectivity via choice of enzymes and process control parameter.