Plastic Pyrolysis
Plastic Pyrolysis
- Built To Order
- Production Ready
The global plastic waste crisis—particularly from PET-based polymers—demands transformative solutions. At Automatski, we are tackling the complexity of plastic depolymerization using quantum simulation to design both novel catalysts and synthetic enzymes that break down resistant plastics efficiently and selectively. This enables true circular plastic recycling and supports a scalable path to sustainable materials management.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a high-crystallinity polymer extensively used in consumer packaging—from beverage bottles to food containers—and accounts for approximately 12% of global plastic waste. Its slow natural degradation, often taking over 50 years, results from the tight crystallinity and environmental resistance of its C–C bonded structure.
Depolymerization Challenge
Polymer formation is an exothermic process driven by C–C bond formation. In contrast, depolymerization is endothermic and energetically intensive, requiring precise control to avoid random radical generation and undesirable byproducts. Conventional chemical catalysts are limited by selectivity, necessitating a tailored approach based on specific polymers and desired outputs.
Quantum Computing to the Rescue
Automatski’s 300+ Qubit Full State Vector Quantum Simulators enable detailed modeling of molecular bond dissociation and catalytic behavior under a wide range of physical and chemical conditions. This allows us to design universal and polymer-specific depolymerization catalysts that are efficient, stable, and scalable for industrial use.
Microbial Enzyme-Based Pyrolysis
Enzymatic hydrolysis represents an eco-friendly strategy for recycling PLA-PET contaminants. Enzymes like PETase and MHETase (from Ideonella sakaiensis), esterase (from Bacillus and Nocardia), and lipase (from Thermomyces lanuginosus, Candida antarctica, Triticum aestivum, and Burkholderia spp.) have shown promise in targeted PET degradation.
Through quantum simulation, Automatski precisely engineers enzyme variants that exhibit higher binding affinity, optimal folding stability, and faster reaction kinetics for diverse plastic substrates.
Benefits
- Catalyst and enzyme design optimized at the quantum level
- Supports PET and mixed plastic depolymerization
- Enables high-yield, low-energy recycling processes
- Environmentally safe and scalable
- Eliminates dependence on random enzyme evolution or classical heuristics
Author : Aditya Yadav