Prospects for recycling plastic waste based on polyethylene glycol terephthalate using living systems (a review)

Abstract

In recent years, the biodegradation of polyethylene glycol terephthalate has become an important direction in solving the problem of environmental pollution with plastic waste. This review generalizes the latest data on various microorganisms capable of biodegrading polyethylene glycol terephthalate. The mechanisms of enzymatic reactions of polyethylene glycol terephthalate hydrolysis and the structure of biodegradation enzymes are elucidated. Challenges to the industrial implementation of polyethylene glycol terephthalate biodegradation are considered along with proposals on the promotion of appropriate waste disposal technologies. Biodegradation comprises a promising method for the environmentally friendly and efficient disposal of waste plastics. So far, no commercial biodegradation technologies for recycling polyethylene glycol terephthalate have been developed. This area is attracting increased research attention, which is expected to result in the appearance of cost-effective and high-tech biodegradation processes. Future advances are likely to be based on synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies capable of constructing artificial microbial consortia and modifying microbial polyethylene glycol terephthalate hydrolases aimed at a more complete biodegradation and bioconversion of polyethylene glycol terephthalate and other complex polymers.