The value of embedding polymer-eating enzymes (IMAGE)
Caption
Enzymes such as lipase (green balls) can degrade plastic polymers from the surface (top left), but they cut up the polymer chains randomly, leaving microplastics behind (top right). A UC Berkeley group embedded enzymes throughout the plastic (lower left), protected by nanoclusters (chains of colored balls). The embedded enzymes are immobilized near the end of the polymer chains and, under the right conditions of heat and moisture, degrade polymer molecules from the end. This technique retains the plastic's integrity during use but, when the user triggers depolymerization, the plastic goes all the way down to recyclable small-molecule by-products.
Credit
Graphic by Christopher DelRe
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