The present invention relates to a new liquid composition comprising biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity, a carrier and a solvent that may be advantageously used for the manufacture of a biodegradable plastic product.

The present invention relates to processes for degrading plastic products and the uses thereof. The processes of the invention particularly comprise a step of amorphizing a plastic product prior to a step of depolymerization. The processes of the invention are particularly useful for degrading a plastic product comprising polyethylene terephthalate and/or polylactic acid. The invention also relates to a method of producing monomers and/or oligomers from a plastic product comprising at least one polyester, particularly polyethylene terephthalate and/or polylactic acid, comprising submitting the plastic product both to an amorphization step and to a depolymerization step.

The present invention relates to novel esterases, more particularly to esterase variants having improved activity and/or improved thermostability compared to the esterase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the uses thereof for degrading polyester containing material, such as plastic products. The esterases of the invention are particularly suited to degrade polyethylene terephthalate, and material containing polyethylene terephthalate.

The present invention relates to a new liquid composition comprising biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity, a carrier and a solvent that may be advantageously used for the manufacture of a biodegradable plastic product.

A method for deriving value from a mixed waste feedstock can include receiving a mixed waste feedstock including at least a reduced density biopolymer material and an organic feedstock. At least one of a fluid or a material that releases liquids during degradation is added to the mixed waste feedstock. The reduced density biopolymer material is separated, via density separation, from the mixed waste feedstock. The reduced density biopolymer material has a specific gravity below a specific gravity threshold. The reduced density biopolymer material separated from the mixed waste feedstock as a result of the separating is recovered.

Bacillus subtilis SK01 and its application in plastic degradation. Bacillus subtilis SK01 collected by China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC), CCTCC NO: M2020812 is used to prepare a degradable plastic that can protect Bacillus subtilis SK01 from the damage of high temperature and reduce the difference with polyene plastics in specific gravity. The plastic may be stored for more than 1 year to ensure that the microbial enzymes produced by Bacillus subtilis SK01 can achieve 49.11% of total degradation of organic solids after 153 days in an environment for composting or soil burial, and can be slowly degraded by sunlight (photodegradation) or immersion in water. Under an environment other than that mentioned above, the finished products of polyene plastics added with Bacillus subtilis SK01 are consistent with the non-degradable plastics in shelf life, satisfying the demand of a variety of polyene plastics.

The present invention relates to novel esterases, more particularly to esterase variants having improved activity and/or improved thermostability compared to the esterase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the uses thereof for degrading polyester containing material, such as plastic products. The esterases of the invention are particularly suited to degrade polyethylene terephthalate, and material containing polyethylene terephthalate.

The present invention relates to novel esterases, more particularly to esterase variants having improved activity and/or improved thermostability compared to the esterase of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the uses thereof for degrading polyester containing material, such as plastic products. The esterases of the invention are particularly suited to degrade polyethylene terephthalate, and material containing polyethylene terephthalate.

The present invention relates generally to the field of degrading polyurethane (PU), for example PU layers in multi-layer packaging. For example, the present invention relates to a method of degrading polyurethane (PU) in packaging material comprising the step of subjecting the packaging material comprising the PU to at least one cutinase. The PU may be a PU-based layer in a multilayer packaging structure comprised in a packaging. Remarkably, the subject matter of the present invention allows the selective degradation of PU containing layers in multi-layer packaging materials.

A new Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain as well as a process for bacterially devulcanizing sulphur-vulcanized rubber particles and devulcanized rubber particles obtainable by the process.