In WP1 and WP2, the enzymes to be used in the recycling processes were identified. In WP3, scale-up strategies for enzyme production were defined and optimised in both E. coli and P. pastoris, both with good results in terms of expression level and activity of the enzymes produced, thus reducing environmental impact and economic costs. WP4 has developed pretreatments capable of inducing oxidation in polyolefin fractions and reducing crystallinity in PET fractions, as well as enzymatic depolymerisation technologies for monolayer PET, multilayer materials and microplastics (TRL3-4). WP5 has made progress in the identification and quantification of microplastics in wastewater streams, designed a pilot plant for the separation of these microplastics and evaluated the biodegradation processes using bacterial isolates obtained in WP1 and recombinant enzymes developed in WP2 and WP3 for the development of a microplastics degradation system. The evaluation of microplastic degradation supported by enzymatic treatments in composting and anaerobic digestion processes was also carried out. The validation of the depolymerisation technologies at pilot scale and the production of new materials (proof-of-concept prototypes: trays and yoghurt pots from repolymerised PET, production of PU foams with partial replacement of phthalic acid by recovered terephthalic acid (TPA) and mechanically recycled PE films from the non-degraded fraction of PET-PE) were the objectives of WP6. In WP7, environmental and economic assessments of the development processes were carried out with the aim of developing processes that are both environmentally sustainable and industrially competitive.In WP8, an intensive positioning and dissemination of ENZYCLE was carried out in all the sectors involved in its value chain, where, together with WP9, a network of synergies with other European projects are being created.
Comprehensive strategies were put in place to streamline IP processes to ensure they are in line with industry best practice, covering key aspects such as confidential know-how, publications and patentability options. A patent application has been filed for the purification and crystallisation process of TPA: P100947NL00 (30.05.2024).The highlights of D&C activities have been :
- Social media community reached 930 followers.
- 2 scientific papers published in 2023, 8 manuscript in preparation for peer-reviewed publications.
- 32 poster and oral presentations at conferences.
- Discussion workshop/ roundtables with 2 school classes about plastic recycling, bio-based plastics and biodegradation (European Researchers Night “Life is Science”).
- ENZYCLE webinar together with sister projects (BIZENTE and RECOVER) “The potential of enzymatic plastic recycling”.
- Final event (9th to 10th April 2024, Madrid).
ENZYCLE continued to release regular newsletters, to publish articles at the “News” section of the website (25 articles) and to distribute the ENZYCLE card game at open events.
