Upcycling PET/PLA waste using a promiscuous thermophilic hydrolase

The world produces approximately 400 million tons of plastic products annually, making its waste's direction and subsequent treatment an emerging issue. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most widely used plastic, commonly used in the production of plastic bags and bottles, with a global production volume up to 70 million tons, becoming a major environmental problem. To address this issue, countries are beginning to promote the use of biodegradable plastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA). However, its decomposition conditions are specific, and currently, most of PLA waste is incinerated, conflicting with the National Development Council's "2050 Net Zero Carbon Emissions" goal. This project aims to use biocatalysis engineering techniques to decompose and convert wasted plastic into non-toxic, value-added products. Specifically, we aim to use the broad-spectrum heat resistant plastic hydrolysis enzyme (IS12) produced by microbes to decompose PET and PLA and analyze their hydrolysis efficiency by using high-performance liquid chromatography, UV/Vis chromatography, and mass spectrometry. Based on the government's proposed "5+2 Industrial Innovation Plan": New Agriculture and Circular Economy, and the United Nations' SDG 12 goal of "Responsible Consumption and Production", we hope to achieve the purpose of upcycling plastic waste.