Presentation Information
[P02-218]Poly(ethylene furanoate) recycling using a biotechnological approach
○Shin-ichi Hachisuka1,2,3, Yuki Miyahara1, Manami Ishii-Hyakutake1, Takeharu Tsuge1 (1. Institute of Science Tokyo (Japan), 2. Hokkaido University (Japan), 3. Maebashi Institute of Technology (Japan))
Keywords:
biorecycling,2,5-furandicarboxylic acid,poly(ethylene furanoate),poly(ethylene terephthalate),polyhydroxyalkanoate
Plastics are indispensable materials in modern society; however, their continuous production and accumulation have caused severe environmental problems, including persistent pollution and reliance on fossil-based resources. The development of sustainable plastics and effective recycling strategies is therefore urgently required. Poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), a bio-based polyester synthesized from ethylene glycol and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) due to its renewable origin and favorable material properties. Nevertheless, efficient recycling technologies for PEF remain underexplored.
In this study, we established a fully biotechnological upcycling system for PEF that integrates enzymatic depolymerization and microbial bioconversion. First, PEF was enzymatically depolymerized to release FDCA using the thermostable ICCG variant (F243I/D238C/S283C/Y127G) of leaf-branch compost cutinase, an engineered enzyme originally developed for high PET-degrading activity. The addition of calcium carbonate effectively suppressed acidification during the reaction and enhanced polyester depolymerization. In addition, the enzyme retained high activity after partial purification by heat treatment at 60°C and was also capable of efficiently degrading PEF.
To valorize the released FDCA, we isolated FDCA-assimilating bacteria from soil samples enriched with FDCA as the sole carbon source and screened them for intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation by fluorescence staining. Two strains showing strong fluorescence signals were selected and identified as Pseudomonas sp. S8-1 and Caballeronia sp. S8-5. In defined medium containing FDCA, strain S8-1 accumulated medium-chain-length PHAs, whereas strain S8-5 produced short-chain-length PHAs. Importantly, the degradation solution derived from enzymatically treated PEF was successfully utilized as a carbon source for PHA production by strain S8-5 without additional purification steps.
Together, these results demonstrate a proof-of-concept biotechnological upcycling system that converts bio-based PEF into biodegradable PHA via enzymatic and microbial processes. This study provides a foundation for sustainable management and value-added recycling of next-generation bioplastics.
In this study, we established a fully biotechnological upcycling system for PEF that integrates enzymatic depolymerization and microbial bioconversion. First, PEF was enzymatically depolymerized to release FDCA using the thermostable ICCG variant (F243I/D238C/S283C/Y127G) of leaf-branch compost cutinase, an engineered enzyme originally developed for high PET-degrading activity. The addition of calcium carbonate effectively suppressed acidification during the reaction and enhanced polyester depolymerization. In addition, the enzyme retained high activity after partial purification by heat treatment at 60°C and was also capable of efficiently degrading PEF.
To valorize the released FDCA, we isolated FDCA-assimilating bacteria from soil samples enriched with FDCA as the sole carbon source and screened them for intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation by fluorescence staining. Two strains showing strong fluorescence signals were selected and identified as Pseudomonas sp. S8-1 and Caballeronia sp. S8-5. In defined medium containing FDCA, strain S8-1 accumulated medium-chain-length PHAs, whereas strain S8-5 produced short-chain-length PHAs. Importantly, the degradation solution derived from enzymatically treated PEF was successfully utilized as a carbon source for PHA production by strain S8-5 without additional purification steps.
Together, these results demonstrate a proof-of-concept biotechnological upcycling system that converts bio-based PEF into biodegradable PHA via enzymatic and microbial processes. This study provides a foundation for sustainable management and value-added recycling of next-generation bioplastics.
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