The enzymatic degradation of polyethylene, now published in Angew. Chem. Int. ed.

In this publication, several research groups are working together to describe a chemoenzymatic cascade reaction to achieve the depolymerization of low-molecular-weight (LMW) PE. First, chemical pretreatment with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA) and ultrasonication were applied followed by the enzyme cascade included a catalase-peroxidase, an alcohol dehydrogenase, a Baeyer Villiger monooxygenase, and a lipase. GC-MS and weight loss determinations confirmed ~27% polymer conversion including the formation of medium-size functionalized molecules such as w-hydroxy acids and α,w-carboxylic acids. Depolymerization of PE was also confirmed by AFM analysis. Enjoy reading the just accepted publication in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. here.