Microbial Fermentation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plastic Waste for the Production of Chemicals or Electricity. (10th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalathil, Shafeer; Miller, Melanie; Reisner, Erwin
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 134:Number 45(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-10-10
• Subjects: Biosynthesis -- Fermentation -- Ideonella Sakaiensis -- Electrosyntrophy -- Plastic Recycling; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202211057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Ideonella sakaiensis ( I. sakaiensis ) can grow on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the major carbon and energy source. Previous work has shown that PET conversion in the presence of oxygen released carbon dioxide and water while yielding adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation. This study demonstrates that I. sakaiensis is a facultative anaerobe that ferments PET to the feedstock chemicals acetate and ethanol in the absence of oxygen. In addition to PET, the pure monomer ethylene glycol (EG), the intermediate product ethanol, and the carbohydrate fermentation test substance maltose can also serve as fermenting substrates. Co‐culturing of I. sakaiensis with the electrogenic and acetate‐consuming Geobacter sulfurreducens produced electricity from PET or EG. This newly identified plastic fermentation process by I. sakaiensis provides thus a novel biosynthetic route to produce high‐value chemicals or electricity from plastic waste streams. Abstract : Microbial degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with Ideonella sakaiensis releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Here, a fermentative metabolic pathway in Ideonella sakaiensis was uncovered facilitating PET degradation while producing valuable feedstock chemicals or electricity in a microbial fuel cell with Geobacter sulfurreducens . This 'plastic fermentation' process provides opportunities for future bioenergy technologies while combating plastic pollution.