Artificial intelligence assisted scientists in their research. Using machine learning technology, they developed a compound that can destroy plastic within 24 hours. The stability of the new enzyme makes it suitable for mass production.

Details of the study

• Scientists have been exploring the possibility of using enzymes to process plastics for more than a decade, and they’ve already made significant progress.
• In 2016, a Japanese team discovered a bacterium that uses enzymes to digest PET over several weeks.
• An edited version called Petaza has increased efficiency, and in 2020 an even more powerful version of Petaza has been developed that “runs” six times faster.
• However, the method still had some disadvantages. For example, bacteria can only work at a certain temperature and acidity, and when it goes beyond, its productivity drops sharply. This made it impossible to use in many parts of the planet.

To address these issues, the team developed a machine learning model that predicts the best mutations in Petaz. The scientists examined a range of products from PET containers, water bottles and fabric, and then applied the model to create and replace a new enzyme. They called it FAST-PETase (functional, active, stable and stable Petase).

Results

• new The enzyme has proven its effectiveness in processing plastics at temperatures from 30 to 50 degrees Celsius and in various acidity ranges.
• It managed to almost completely destroy 51 different unprocessed PET products in one week and destroyed some of them in just 24 hours.
• The researchers also demonstrated a closed PET recycling loop, in which FAST-PETase destroys the plastic, followed by material that is chemically recovered from other monomers.
• According to the researchers, an affordable and convenient method for rapid degradation of plastic at low temperatures could be easily adapted to industrial needs.
• They have applied for a patent for their technology and hope it will appear in their processing plant soon.

It is worth noting that not only people are working on the problem of plastic clogging. Even nature began to change the bacteria in different parts of the planet at the same time, so that they could process the plastic that human beings throw into the environment. It is easier for many microbes than regular food. Scientists have discovered about 30,000 enzymes that break down the 10 most common types of plastic.