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Biorenewable and circular polydiketoenamine plastics

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremy Demarteau

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Benjamin Cousineau

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Zilong Wang

    (Joint BioEnergy Institute
    University of California
    University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Baishakhi Bose

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Seokjung Cheong

    (Joint BioEnergy Institute
    University of California
    University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Guangxu Lan

    (Joint BioEnergy Institute
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Nawa R. Baral

    (Joint BioEnergy Institute
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Simon J. Teat

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Corinne D. Scown

    (Joint BioEnergy Institute
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    University of California)

  • Jay D. Keasling

    (Joint BioEnergy Institute
    University of California
    University of California
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Brett A. Helms

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Joint BioEnergy Institute
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Abstract

Amid growing concerns over the human health and environmental impacts of plastic waste, the most promising solution would be to build a circular plastics economy where sustainability considerations dictate the full life cycle of plastics use including replacing petrochemicals with biorenewables. Here we show that by incorporating the polyketide triacetic acid lactone (TAL) in polydiketoenamines (PDK) we increase the working temperature of these circular plastics, opening the door wider to applications where circularity is urgently needed. By varying the number of carbons of TAL-derived monomers, both polymer properties and recycling efficiency are affected. Simply using glucose as the main carbon source, we engineered a process for producing bioTAL under fed-batch fermentation. A systems analysis of this bioprocess under different scenarios quantifies the environmental and economic benefits of PDK plastics and the risks when implemented at an industrial scale, providing opportunities in biorenewable circularity.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy Demarteau & Benjamin Cousineau & Zilong Wang & Baishakhi Bose & Seokjung Cheong & Guangxu Lan & Nawa R. Baral & Simon J. Teat & Corinne D. Scown & Jay D. Keasling & Brett A. Helms, 2023. "Biorenewable and circular polydiketoenamine plastics," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1426-1435, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:11:d:10.1038_s41893-023-01160-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01160-2
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