GO!PHA’s Post

Microplastic accumulation in the Earth’s ecosystems is a consequence of their global scale (mis)use and disposal, and the resistance of the most common polyolefin, polyester and polyvinyl chloride plastics to natural degradation processes. So-called ‘𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨’ focuses on (bio)chemical processes to deconstruct plastics into their constituent monomer building blocks. 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 is now recognised as an essential complement to mechanical #recycling of thermoplastic polymers, such as 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 (𝗣𝗘𝗧), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) widely used in consumer packaging. However, even in pure form, thermoplastics can only be mechanically recycled a handful of times, and thermoset #plastics such as #polyurethane, #silicones and epoxy resins used in adhesives, construction pipes and electronics cannot be mechanically recycled. Biological catalysts, #enzymes, offers a promising route to the chemical recycling of PET into its terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG) monomers, which can be repolymerised into new plastic. Although 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗼(𝟮-𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘅𝘆𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘆𝗹)𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗲 (𝗠𝗛𝗘𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗲) can depolymerise PET into TPA and EG, native forms of this enzyme are not efficient. A recent study by researchers from The Australian National University (Jake Saunders, Adam Damry, Vanessa Vongsouthi, Matthew Spence, Rebecca Frkic, Chloe Gomez, Patrick Yates, Dana Mathews, Malcolm McLeod and Colin Jackson) and the The University of British Columbia (Nobuhiko Tokuriki) employed ‘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻’, in which stabilising amino acid sequences are identified and inserted into proteins, to increasing the soluble expression and whole-cell activity of 𝗠𝗛𝗘𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗲 for recycling 𝗣𝗘𝗧 waste. Several new enzyme variants with specific mutations that improved protein folding and expression levels were discovered and adapted, resulting in a 10-fold increase in catalytic activity. Commercial biocatalytic recycling of 𝗣𝗘𝗧 would represent an important contribution to a circular economy and mitigate the environmental harm of plastic pollutants. The research was supported by the Australian Research Council and its 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 and ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Check out the full paper published in 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 by the American Chemical Society: https://lnkd.in/gErYh9p7 #catalysis #biocatalysis #microplastics #plasticrecycling #sustainability #plasticsengineering #biotechnology #chemistry #syntheticbiology #biomanufacturing

🔬 Unlocking the Future of Waste Valorization! ♻️ What if we could recover valuable products like lactic and acetic acids directly from food waste? One of our research papers explores just that, using reactive extraction (RE) to efficiently extract these acids from leached bed reactor leachate. Combining Aliquat 336 with butyl acetate/MIBK extractants, we optimized this process using response surface methodology (RSM), achieving extraction efficiencies of up to 100% for key fatty acids. Curious about how this innovation could revolutionize waste-to-value technologies and support the bio-economy? Read on to discover more! 📖 'Reactive Extraction of Lactic and Acetic Acids from Leached Bed Reactor Leachate' Authors: Debkumar Chakraborty, Sankar Ganesh Palani, Makarand M. Ghangrekar & Jonathan W.C. Wong #WasteToEnergy #CircularEconomy #Bioeconomy #SustainableTech #FoodWaste #Research

🌱 TrichAnalytics Inc. laboratory prioritizes green chemistry to ensure an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach in its operations. 🌿 By eliminating the use of harsh chemicals and solvents for tissue sample digestion, the lab significantly reduces the need for chemical disposal and mitigates associated environmental risks. This chemical-free methodology, coupled with the use of gas instead of traditional solvents, enables efficient recycling processes, further minimizing waste. Utilizing advanced techniques like laser ablation ICP-MS allows for the direct analysis of biological tissues without the need for acid digestion, preserving sample integrity and enhancing safety. These practices underscore TrichAnalytics Inc.'s commitment to sustainability and innovation in scientific research. #lasers #metals #mercury #selenium #environmental #health #greenchemistry

🌟 Excited to share the Title Story, Volume 10 Issue 7: Microbial PolyHydroxyAlkanoate (PHA) Biopolymers—Intrinsically Natural. 🥼 This paper is authored by Anindya Mukherjee and Martin Koller. 💡 In particular, this review demonstrates how microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of intrinsically natural polymers, can successfully remedy the fossil and persistent plastic dilemma. Welcome to view this paper here👉 : https://lnkd.in/euUiJpD9. #biopolymers #green_chemistry_principles #natural_polymers #polyhydroxyalkanoates #PHA

Various Applications of Biosurfactants And Why They Can Change Our World!

We were glad to share with you our presentation on the topic Application of Shimadzu chromatography systems for biosurfactant analyses at The Seminar of Shimadzu users 2024. Evonik’s biosurfactants make a clean sweep – literally. They not only remove grease and dirt but are also eco-friendly and gentle on the skin. They are 100 percent biodegradable and therefore enable circular economy. They come with the lowest aquatic toxic profile available on the surfactant market and are safe for oceanic life. All our biosurfactants are produced from locally sourced (EU) bio-based raw materials without the use of tropical oils. They are produced by a safer, mild and low energy fermentation process. Our biosurfactants perform in any condition -independent from water quality. #Evonik #Biosurfactant #Sustainability #Biotechnology #Biosolutions #Shimadzu

Happy to share our recent publication on the current progress of developing biobased polyesters from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and its emerging applications as packaging materials, engineering plastics, and biodegradable polymer. Emphasis on the recycling and life cycle assessment of FDCA- derived polyester in comparison to petro-based PET, embracing sustainable, circular technologies for a greener future are also highlighted. https://lnkd.in/gcvgdNgf

Processing living organisms for commercial products is complex. At Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, our tools and technologies enhance efficiency, reproducibility, and provide accurate, real-time data. We design biomanufacturing solutions for: ● Biofoundries and Strain Optimization Services ● Food and Beverage ● Cosmetics ● Materials and Chemicals ● Agriculture ● Fuel, Oil and Biofuels Let's build a better tomorrow. Learn more: https://becls.co/3TTY6Tr #SyntheticBiology #Biomanufacturing #Bioengineering

My first citation! My paper was referenced in this research article about potential use of hemp bast fiber for filter papers. I am so happy that my paper is providing relavent info for others seeking to increase the sustainability of the paper industry!

💡 For the sake of the environment and our quality of life, effective treatment of wastewater plays a vital role. A biological method to treat sewage using moving, biofilm-covered plastic items known as carriers has been gaining prominence, and an Osaka Metropolitan University-led team has found ways to make the process more efficient. 🔗 Spurring more biofilm growth for efficient wastewater treatment https://lnkd.in/eMS8txXW 📄 Paper Information Journal: Environmental Technology & Innovation Title: Nitrogen conversion performance of a polypropylene carrier designed to promote biofilm formation through foaming DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2024.103747 Author(s): Tomoki Gamo, Yoshihiro Ojima, Sayaka Matsubara, Yoshihiro Fukumoto, Masayuki Azuma Publication date: 10 July 2024 URL: https://lnkd.in/ekxSxeyp #OMU #research #wastewater #MBBR #biofilm #polypropylene #environment