Dissertation
Discovery, characterization and implementation of novel polyester depolymerizing enzymes
Plastics are an intrinsic part of our society. Annually, 400Mt of plastics are produced of which roughly 40% is discarded within a year.
- Author
- J. Verschoor
- Date
- 28 January 2026
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
Mixing plastics and the lack of efficient sorting have complicated recycling leading to many plastics being incinerated or landfilled. Mismanagement of plastics leads to rapid accumulation of plastics into the environment causing one of the biggest environmental threats of the 21st century. Therefore, novel sustainable routes towards plastic depolymerization and upcycling need to be developed. In this thesis, we aim to identify, characterize and implement novel polyester degrading enzymes, to contribute to the development of enzymatic depolymerization of polyesters.