DAM-2: A novel enzyme for Nylon-6,6 recycling

**挑战：**尼龙-6，6是由己二酸(ADP)和六亚甲基二胺(HMDA)单体通过能源密集型工业过程进行酯化而生产的(每生产一吨尼龙-6，6消耗80-60兆焦耳)。全球尼龙6，6制造每年释放约1200万吨二氧化碳和约200万吨一氧化二氮(NOx)。世界上75%的ADP用于尼龙-6，6。ADP制造本身就存在很大的问题：*全球约1%的NOx排放和0.2%的二氧化碳排放是由ADP生产造成的。*苯原料是一种不可再生的石油化合物和挥发性致癌物质。*废金属催化剂会产生有毒的废气。*ADP制造所需的高温和压力每吨ADP消耗100-120GJ的能量。尼龙-6，6可以机械回收，但回收的材料可能含有杂质，而且没有原始尼龙-6-6聚合物那么坚固。尼龙-6，6的化学回收可以产生更高质量的再制造产品。然而，现有的化学回收方法比机械回收更复杂、更昂贵。此外，尼龙-6，6的化学回收需要有害和有毒的化学助剂。对改进的尼龙-6，6回收方法有**未满足的需求**，减少对原始尼龙-6，6的需求，并减少对ADP和HMDA单体的需求。**创新：**Epoch BioDesign(前身为Mellizyme Biotech)最近提纯了一种代号为‘DAM-2’的尼龙水解酶。实验室**到目前为止的工作**表明，DAM-2可以在室温和大气压下催化尼龙-6，6的解聚--这代表着目前可用于尼龙-6-6回收的工艺的重大创新。**项目重点：**Epoch将使用专有的合成生物学工具和方法来提高DAM-2的活性。他们还将从DAM-2介导的解聚反应的降解产物中生成挤出新的尼龙-6，6长丝的协议。通过完成这项工作，Epoch将为尼龙-6，6回收创造**改变游戏规则**和**颠覆性**的新能力，这使得从摇篮到摇篮的回收能够以环保的方式进行。

**Challenge:** Nylon-6,6 is produced by the esterification of adipic acid (ADP) and hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) monomers via energy intensive industrial processes (consuming between 80-60 MJ per tonne Nylon-6,6 manufactured). Annual global Nylon-6,6 manufacturing releases ~12 million tonne CO2 and ~2 million tonnes of nitrous oxide (NOx).75% of the world's ADP is used for Nylon-6,6\. ADP manufacturing is itself highly problematic:* ~1% of global NOx emissions and 0.2% of CO2 emissions are caused by ADP production.* The benzene feedstock is a non-renewable petroleum compound and volatile carcinogen.* Spent metal catalysts create toxic waste streams.* The high temperatures and pressure required for ADP manufacture consume 100-120 GJ energy per tonne of ADP manufactured.Nylon-6,6 can be recycled mechanically, but the recycled material can contain impurities and is not as a strong as virgin Nylon-6,6 polymer.Chemical recycling of Nylon-6,6 can generate a higher quality of remanufactured product. However, the chemical recycling methods available are more complex and more expensive than mechanical recycling. Moreover, chemical recycling of Nylon-6,6 requires harmful and toxic chemical adjuvants.There is an **unmet need** for improved Nylon-6,6 recycling methods, reducing demand for virgin Nylon-6,6 and reducing demand for ADP and HMDA monomers.**Innovation:** Epoch Biodesign (formerly Mellizyme Biotechnology) recently purified a nylon hydrolase codenamed 'DAM-2'. Laboratory **work-to-date** shows DAM-2 can catalyse the depolymerization of Nylon-6,6 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure -- representing significant innovation in the processes currently available for Nylon-6,6 recycling.**Project focus:** Epoch will use proprietary synthetic biology tools and approaches to improve the activity of DAM-2\. They will also generate protocols for extruding new Nylon-6,6 filament from the degradation products of the DAM-2 mediated depolymerisation reaction.By completing this work Epoch will create a **game-changing** and **disruptive** new capability for Nylon-6,6 recycling, which enables cradle-to-cradle recycling in an environmentally-friendly manner.