Publications

Data publikacji: 2025-06-09

Efficient Degradation of Consumer-Grade PLA by Commercial Savinase: Optimized Conditions and Molecular Dynamics Insights

M. Nenadovic, M. Ponjavic, B. Pantelic, Maciej Guzik, T. Majka, G. Sourkouni, A. Marsavelski, J. Nikodinovic-Runic

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 13 (2025-06-09) 9269-9278

Abstrakt

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most widely produced biopolymer globally, with 920,000 tons reaching the market in 2024. Although it is a biobased polymer and biodegradable, it currently poses a threat by generating a considerable waste stream in the environment unless its end-of-life options are further developed. Biorecycling of PLA is a promising solution and is critical for PLA to be a truly sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, further enabling the (bio)plastics circular economy. This work investigates the repurposing of commercial Savinase 12T preparation, already produced on a large scale for the detergent industry, for the degradation of consumer-grade PLA. Savinase-degraded postconsumer PLA single-use cups at a rate of 166 mg·day–1·mg enzyme–1 for the lid part (crystallinity (Xc) 22.9%) and 40 mg·day–1·mg enzyme–1 for the body part (Xc 42.0%). The average degradation rate of PLA 3D printer filaments was determined to be 56 mg·day–1·mg enzyme–1 under optimized conditions of pH 8.5 and 42 °C. Lactic acid was identified as the main PLA degradation product of Savinase depolymerizing activity. Molecular modeling revealed Asn155 and Ser125 as key residues involved in PLA tetramer binding.

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