Global plastic production has reached unprecedented levels, yet only about 9% is recycled, with the rest incinerated or accumulating in the environment. Current recycling methods face significant limitations, often leading to material degradation or having a substantial environmental footprint. Recently, enzymatic recycling has emerged as a promising and more eco-friendly alternative. It relies on biocatalysts capable of selectively degrading specific plastics under mild and sustainable conditions, such as aqueous media and moderate temperatures. These advances have been driven by remarkable progress in enzyme identification and engineering—resulting in highly efficient enzymes for polymers like polyesters—as well as a deeper understanding of how polymer chemistry and structure affect recycling efficiency. However, enzymatic recycling still faces numerous challenges at the interface of polymer physico-chemistry and biocatalysis, which currently limits its application to a narrow range of polymers.
This project aims to shed light on polymer-enzyme interactions by focusing on an original class of controlled-structure polymers, specifically designed for enzymatic degradation. The project will involve polymer synthesis, enzyme production and modeling, the advanced analysis of degradation products and the thorough exploration and optimization of operating conditions.
