The idea of using enzymes per to break down i plastic waste is catching on thanks to a series of new discoveries in the scientific field.
A new study marks another breakthrough in science, as scientists have harnessed artificial intelligence to design an enzyme that degrades certain forms of plastic in just 24 hours, with stability that makes it suitable for large-scale adoption.
In 2016, researchers in Japan they unearthed a bacterium that used enzymes to break down the PET plastic within a few weeks. An engineered version of these enzymes, nicknamed PETasifurther improved performance, and in 2020 we saw scientists develop an even more potent version that digested PET plastic at six times the speed.
A team from the University of Texas has decided to address some of the deficiencies in these enzymes so far. According to scientists, theapplication of technology was hampered by the inability to function well in cold temperatures and different pH rangesthe lack of effectiveness in directly dealing with untreated plastic waste and slow reaction rates.
Here’s how the new version works even faster
To solve these problems, the team has developed a machine learning model able to predict which mutations in a PETase enzyme would allow these capabilities. This involved closely studying a range of PET plastic productsincluding containers, water bottles and textiles, and then using the model to design a new and improved enzyme named PETasi FAST.
This newly created enzyme has been shown to be superior in breaking down PET plastic at temperatures between 30 and 50 ° C (86 and 122 ° F) at a different a range of pH levels.
He was able to almost completely degrade 51 different untreated PET products within a week and in some experiments he demolished the plastic in just 24 ore. Scientists also have demonstrated a closed-loop PET recycling process.
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