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Urethanases for the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Low Molecular Weight Carbamates and the Recycling of Polyurethanes.

Authors :
Branson, Yannick
Söltl, Simone
Buchmann, Carolin
Wei, Ren
Schaffert, Lena
Badenhorst, Christoffel P. S.
Reisky, Lukas
Jäger, Gernot
Bornscheuer, Uwe T.
Source :
Angewandte Chemie International Edition; 2/20/2023, Vol. 62 Issue 9, p1-5, 5p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Enzymatic degradation and recycling can reduce the environmental impact of plastics. Despite decades of research, no enzymes for the efficient hydrolysis of polyurethanes have been reported. Whereas the hydrolysis of the ester bonds in polyester‐polyurethanes by cutinases is known, the urethane bonds in polyether‐polyurethanes have remained inaccessible to biocatalytic hydrolysis. Here we report the discovery of urethanases from a metagenome library constructed from soil that had been exposed to polyurethane waste for many years. We then demonstrate the use of a urethanase in a chemoenzymatic process for polyurethane foam recycling. The urethanase hydrolyses low molecular weight dicarbamates resulting from chemical glycolysis of polyether‐polyurethane foam, making this strategy broadly applicable to diverse polyether‐polyurethane wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14337851
Volume :
62
Issue :
9
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
161967506
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202216220