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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.11.14.516414

Efficient mechano-enzymatic hydrolysis of polylactic acid under moist-solid conditions.

Perez-Venegas, M.·Friscic, T.·Auclair, K.
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Abstract

Quantitative mechano-enzymatic depolymerisation of polylactic acid to lactic acid was achieved at 55{degrees}C using the Humicola insolens cutinase enzyme in moist-solid reaction mixtures. The resulting lactic acid was easily recovered, and the crude product was pure enough to be used in further synthesis of a value-added compound, a known benzimidazole-based drug precursor. The presented mechano-enzymatic depolymerisation strategy enables the closed-loop recycling of untreated polylactic acid under mild conditions, using a renewable, non-toxic catalyst and producing minimum solvent waste.

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Perez-Venegas, M., Friscic, T., Auclair, K.. 2022-11-15. Efficient mechano-enzymatic hydrolysis of polylactic acid under moist-solid conditions.. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.14.516414

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