Enzymatic hydrolysis of polyesters

Abstract

The paper systematically deals with the enzymatic hydrolysis of polyester as an environmentally friendly process that takes place at atmospheric pressure, moderate temperatures and mild pH conditions, reducing production costs and energy consumption, increasing environmental awareness and improving product quality and functionality. The advantages of enzymatic treatment on textile substrates compared to alkaline hydrolysis are improved surface appearance, reduced tendency to pilling, improved handle and softness. According to the literature, cutinases would be the best choice for surface hydrolysis of polyester materials as they have similar properties to lipases (hydrolysis of insoluble substrates) and esterases (hydrolysis of soluble substrates), allowing them to act on different types of soluble and insoluble esters.