Fusion enzyme ‘boosts polyester textile recycling’

PORTSMOUTH / MANCHESTER -  A redesigned “plastic-eating” enzyme developed by scientists at the University of Portsmouth and the University of Manchester could help improve the recycling of polyester textiles, according to a new peer-reviewed study.

The team designed a new fusion enzyme to break down PET even when the reactors are packed with around 20% plastic by weight, a loading they say is essential if enzymatic recycling is to work at commercial scale.