Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)
With macroscopic litter and its degradation into secondary microplastic as a major source of environmental pollution, one key challenge is understanding the pathways from macro- to microplastic by abiotic and biotic environmental impact. So far, little is known about the impact of biota on material...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/22/3885 |
| _version_ | 1797508630486974464 |
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| author | Teresa Menzel Sebastian Weigert Andreas Gagsteiger Yannik Eich Sebastian Sittl Georg Papastavrou Holger Ruckdäschel Volker Altstädt Birte Höcker |
| author_facet | Teresa Menzel Sebastian Weigert Andreas Gagsteiger Yannik Eich Sebastian Sittl Georg Papastavrou Holger Ruckdäschel Volker Altstädt Birte Höcker |
| author_sort | Teresa Menzel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With macroscopic litter and its degradation into secondary microplastic as a major source of environmental pollution, one key challenge is understanding the pathways from macro- to microplastic by abiotic and biotic environmental impact. So far, little is known about the impact of biota on material properties. This study focuses on recycled, bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) and the degrading enzyme PETase from <i>Ideonella sakaiensis</i>. Compact tension (CT) specimens were incubated in an enzymatic solution and thermally and mechanically characterized. A time-dependent study up to 96 h revealed the formation of steadily growing colloidal structures. After 96 h incubation, high amounts of BHET dimer were found in a near-surface layer, affecting crack propagation and leading to faster material failure. The results of this pilot study show that enzymatic activity accelerates embrittlement and favors fragmentation. We conclude that PET-degrading enzymes must be viewed as a potentially relevant acceleration factor in macroplastic degradation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:06:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06b2b232277c45f29f7dbd026f389f0a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:06:38Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-06b2b232277c45f29f7dbd026f389f0a2023-11-23T01:08:09ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-11-011322388510.3390/polym13223885Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)Teresa Menzel0Sebastian Weigert1Andreas Gagsteiger2Yannik Eich3Sebastian Sittl4Georg Papastavrou5Holger Ruckdäschel6Volker Altstädt7Birte Höcker8Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Polymer Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Physical Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Universitätstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Polymer Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Polymer Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, GermanyWith macroscopic litter and its degradation into secondary microplastic as a major source of environmental pollution, one key challenge is understanding the pathways from macro- to microplastic by abiotic and biotic environmental impact. So far, little is known about the impact of biota on material properties. This study focuses on recycled, bottle-grade poly(ethylene terephthalate) (r-PET) and the degrading enzyme PETase from <i>Ideonella sakaiensis</i>. Compact tension (CT) specimens were incubated in an enzymatic solution and thermally and mechanically characterized. A time-dependent study up to 96 h revealed the formation of steadily growing colloidal structures. After 96 h incubation, high amounts of BHET dimer were found in a near-surface layer, affecting crack propagation and leading to faster material failure. The results of this pilot study show that enzymatic activity accelerates embrittlement and favors fragmentation. We conclude that PET-degrading enzymes must be viewed as a potentially relevant acceleration factor in macroplastic degradation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/22/3885polymer degradationmicroplasticnanoplasticPETasecrack formationfatigue crack propagation resistance |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Menzel Sebastian Weigert Andreas Gagsteiger Yannik Eich Sebastian Sittl Georg Papastavrou Holger Ruckdäschel Volker Altstädt Birte Höcker Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Polymers polymer degradation microplastic nanoplastic PETase crack formation fatigue crack propagation resistance |
| title | Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) |
| title_full | Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) |
| title_short | Impact of Enzymatic Degradation on the Material Properties of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) |
| title_sort | impact of enzymatic degradation on the material properties of poly ethylene terephthalate |
| topic | polymer degradation microplastic nanoplastic PETase crack formation fatigue crack propagation resistance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/22/3885 |
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