EUBP Talk #3: Enzymatic and chemical recycling for bioplastics
European Bioplastics continues the series of informal online talks focusing on recycling of bioplastics and the scale up of recycling technologies.
During the EUBP Talks, outstanding researchers, organisations and companies interested in monitoring emerging innovation will come together to exchange ideas and solutions in an informal setting.
In our third edition, Arno Cordes Managing Director at ASA Spezialenzyme GmbH, will present on Enzymatic Recycling for Bioplastics.
Enzymatic recycling is an advanced technology for the degradation of different compounds in plastic waste streams to make the reaction products available for the synthesis of new plastic material. During the last years, different enzymes were discovered capable for the cleavage of bioplastics and specifically for polyydroxyalkanoates (PHA/PHB), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS) or and polylactic acid (PLA).
This talk will offer an overview of the types of enzymes used in bioplastic recycling projects e.g., esterases, polyesterhydrolases and polymer depolymerases. Moreover, this talk will also focus on the efficiency of enzyme use in the degradation of polymers and on the level of maturity for industrial application.
Jan Pels CTO of TORWASH, will provide an in-depth look at TORWASH technology for chemical recycling.
He will talk about depolymerizing polyesters and subsequent repolymerizing them into polyesters with exactly the same characteristics of virgin materials. It is important to substitute non-biodegradable plastics with biodegradables to reduce pollution and eliminate microplastics. This transition requires many types of biodegradable plastics, blends and composites to cover all different kinds of usages; it also requires recycling technologies able to recycle non-singular materials, and deal with colors, fillers, softeners, etc. that are added to polymers.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert insights and engage in discussions on the evolving landscape of bioplastics recycling!
