Mike Barrett – Research teams from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the University of Portsmouth in the UK had a happy accident recently when they created a “mutant” enzyme that eats plastic. [1] [2]

The team was studying a 3D model of a newly discovered enzyme that eats plastic when they accidentally engineered a super enzyme that degrades plastic even better than the natural enzyme from a bacterium first discovered in Japan.

In a press release, Professor John McGeehan, who led the research, said:

“We can all play a significant part in dealing with the plastic problem, but the scientific community who ultimately created these ‘wonder-materials,’ must now use all the technology at their disposal to develop real solutions.” [1]

The super enzyme is capable of “digesting” polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the main ingredient in most plastic bottles, according to the researchers. Continue reading →