1. The metabolic potential of plastics as biotechnological carbon sources – Review and targets for the future
- Author
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Till Tiso, Benedikt Winter, Ren Wei, Johann Hee, Jan de Witt, Nick Wierckx, Peter Quicker, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, André Bardow, Juan Nogales, and Lars M. Blank
- Subjects
0303 health sciences ,030306 microbiology ,Bioengineering ,7. Clean energy ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Carbon ,12. Responsible consumption ,03 medical and health sciences ,Metabolic Engineering ,13. Climate action ,Metabolic pathways ,Theoretical yield ,Global warming impact ,Recycling ,ddc:610 ,Biotechnological upcycling ,Plastics ,030304 developmental biology ,Biotechnology - Abstract
The plastic crisis requires drastic measures, especially for the plastics’ end-of-life. Mixed plastic fractions are currently difficult to recycle, but microbial metabolism might open new pathways. With new technologies for degradation of plastics to oligo- and monomers, these carbon sources can be used in biotechnology for the upcycling of plastic waste to valuable products, such as bioplastics and biosurfactants. We briefly summarize well-known monomer degradation pathways and computed their theoretical yields for industrially interesting products. With this information in hand, we calculated replacement scenarios of existing fossil-based synthesis routes for the same products. Thereby, we highlight fossil-based products for which plastic monomers might be attractive alternative carbon sources. Notably, not the highest yield of product on substrate of the biochemical route, but rather the (in-)efficiency of the petrochemical routes (i.e., carbon, energy use) determines the potential of biochemical plastic upcycling. Our results might serve as a guide for future metabolic engineering efforts towards a sustainable plastic economy., Metabolic Engineering, 71
- Published
- 2022