(77g) On-Demand Degradation of Polyesters By an Embedded “Dormant-Awakened” Enzyme-MOF Hybrid Catalyst

By equipping polymers with enzymes, bio-intelligent materials with unique on-demand self-degradation functions can be constructed. However, due to the fact that enzymes are easily deactivated at the high temperature of industrial thermal processing of most polymer materials, the poor industrial processability of biomacromolecules results in challenge of producing the above bio-intelligent materials in industry. In this study, we encapsulated enzyme in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to form enzyme-MOF hybrid catalyst. The protection of MOF armors shields enzyme activity, but maintains its high stability at 180 ℃. Therefore, the enzyme-MOF hybrid catalyst can be embedded into polyesters as a "dormant" biocatalyst via a widely used industrial melt extrusion technology. Under specific external conditions, the MOF armor disassembles, releasing enzymes and metal precursors. The “awakened” enzyme and metal catalyst cooperatively catalyze the rapid depolymerization of polyester materials into monomers.