Unwrapping the Plastic Problem: Producing Enzymes to Advance Plastic Degradation

Roughly 12,000 metric tons of plastic waste will be in landfills or in the natural environment by 2050. The plastic problem has become a bigger issue than anyone has ever anticipated. A common plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is predominately used for packaging food and drink items and it is not easily recycled. Current recycling methods, such as chemical and mechanical recycling, are less efficient and not as environmentally friendly as biorecycling. The goal of this project is to design a chemical plant that produces a new enzyme, leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC), that can be used to biorecycle PET on a large scale. Presently, LCC is only produced in lab settings. To generate this enzyme in large quantities can be monumental in implementing successful biorecycling methods. By combining the small-scale research done on the extraction of LCC with the production of common enzymes such as cellulase, this project crafted a process to industrially produce LCC. LCC can be then introduced into the plastics recycling sector to break down plastics into two important monomers, terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, much more efficiently. These monomers can easily be recycled back to bottles, packaging, or apparel. The United States struggles to properly recycle, but recent legislation in many states, including Illinois where this plant will be located, promotes the advancement of recycling technology by offering subsidies and grants. The process begins with a yeast, P. pastoris as feedstock, then with fermentation, followed by concentration and lyophilization, a dry powder of LCC is produced. This plant will produce 15,000 kg of LCC each year, which can be re-used to degrade up to 15,000 tons of PET plastic per year. This process will be the first of its kind and opens the door to solving the unprecedented plastic pollution problem the planet is faced with today.