Plastics are man-made polymers that are used for many applications. At the same time, world-wide accumulation of plastics in the environment poses a huge and growing threat. Polyamides, like nylon and polycaprolactam, and polystyrene are among the most abundant and persistent plastics. Their chemical degradation poses an equally high environmental burden. We propose a highly innovative approach towards degradation, recycling and revalorization of polyamides and polystyrene. Mild thermochemical treatment, followed by degradation and conversion of resulting oligomers and monomers by bacteria equipped with the required enzymes will enable sustainable and economically feasible recycling and revalorization.

• cell factory
• microbial biotechnolgy
• synthetic biology

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