Resources
1.IUPAC. Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry 2023.
2.De Gruyter Brill. Chemistry International – IUPAC 2023 Emerging
Technologies.
Innovation of Emerging Technology: Biological
Recycling of PET
Biological recycling of PET uses natural or engineered enzymes to
break down PET plastic into its original chemical components, known
as monomers. Unlike Traditional mechanical recycling, which melts
plastic and reduces its quality over time, this method allows PET to
be recycled without loss of quality. The recovered monomers can be
reused to make new PET products, creating a closed – loop recycling
system.
Potential impacts
Positive impacts of this Technology include a significant reduction in
plastic waste entering landfills and oceans. It lowers dependence on
fossil fuels by reducing the need for virgin plastic production and
supports a circular economy. Additionally, biological recycling can
process contaminated or mixed PET waste that is difficult to recycle
using conventional methods.
However, there are also challenges and negative impacts. The
Technology is still is an early stage and can be expensive to scale up.
Enzyme production and controlled processing conditions may require
energy and specialized infrastructure, Without proper regulation,
large – scale facilities could also pose environmental management
challenges.
Impacts on Daily Life
1.IUPAC. Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry 2023.
2.De Gruyter Brill. Chemistry International – IUPAC 2023 Emerging
Technologies.
Innovation of Emerging Technology: Biological
Recycling of PET
Biological recycling of PET uses natural or engineered enzymes to
break down PET plastic into its original chemical components, known
as monomers. Unlike Traditional mechanical recycling, which melts
plastic and reduces its quality over time, this method allows PET to
be recycled without loss of quality. The recovered monomers can be
reused to make new PET products, creating a closed – loop recycling
system.
Potential impacts
Positive impacts of this Technology include a significant reduction in
plastic waste entering landfills and oceans. It lowers dependence on
fossil fuels by reducing the need for virgin plastic production and
supports a circular economy. Additionally, biological recycling can
process contaminated or mixed PET waste that is difficult to recycle
using conventional methods.
However, there are also challenges and negative impacts. The
Technology is still is an early stage and can be expensive to scale up.
Enzyme production and controlled processing conditions may require
energy and specialized infrastructure, Without proper regulation,
large – scale facilities could also pose environmental management
challenges.
Impacts on Daily Life
