POS9-0114
Enzyme embedding for improving the biodegradability of poly(ethylene succinate) melt-spun fibers
Topic
S9. Polymer Technology for Sustainability
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Kei Ishida (Science of Polymeric Materials, Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) fibers exhibit limited degradation in marine environments, partly due to the scarcity of degrading enzymes in seawater. Embedding enzymes into PES is expected to promote depolymerization and subsequent microbial biodegradation. However, the application of this strategy to fibers remains largely unexplored. In this study, Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC)-embedded PES fibers were prepared by melt mixing and spinning, and their properties and degradation behavior were investigated. PES fibers containing 0.1 wt% HiC retained tensile strength comparable to neat fibers. Degradation tests demonstrated that the HiC-embedded fibers degraded under both buffer and quay conditions. The degradation rate decreased with increasing draw ratio and molecular orientation. Microscopy suggested that increased orientation hindered degradation into the fiber interior. Biochemical oxygen demand tests confirmed that HiC-embedded fibers were metabolized by microorganisms. These results demonstrate that enzyme embedding enhances the biodegradability of PES fibers.
