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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Rapid monomerization of poly(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate) by Leptothrix sp
Toshiaki Nakajima-Kambe1, Kieko Toyoshima, Chika Saito
1Bioindustrial Sciences, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan. toshi@sakura.cc.tsukuba.ac.jp
Abstract:
For rapid monomerization of biodegradable plastics, various microorganisms were screened and TB-71 was selected as the best strain. TB-71 degraded solid poly(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate) (PBSA), poly(ethylene succinate), and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) but not poly(butylene succinate), poly(2-hydroxybutylate-co-valerate) or poly(lactic acid). Esterase activity was observed in the culture broth during PBSA degradation, which was specifically induced by PBSA. Analysis of the degradation products revealed that PBSA was degraded to monomers.
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