A Low-Carbon Platform for Upgrading Waste Polyesters into Methane Fuels via Piezo-Driven Biocatalysis

Lu Chen; Xiaoqiang An; Yuan Wen; Shunan Zhao; Huijuan Liu; Jiuhui Qu

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2025.11.027

Engineering ›› :202511027 DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.11.027

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A Low-Carbon Platform for Upgrading Waste Polyesters into Methane Fuels via Piezo-Driven Biocatalysis

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Abstract

Biodegradable polyesters offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fossil-based plastics, but their natural biodegradation requires long periods and produce CO₂. Biosynthesis provides a sustainable approach to utilizing waste polyesters for low-carbon development, yet the bioconversion capability of plastics remains extremely low. Herein, we demonstrate the piezo-driven biosynthesis of CH₄ fuel from polyester waste hydrolysates and CO₂ by harvesting hydraulic mechanical energy from flowing water to promote microbial metabolism and energy cycling. Polarized BaTiO₃ (BTO) generates piezo-holes to oxidize polylactic acid (PLA) plastic hydrolysates into small organic molecules, while the piezo-electrons are accepted by Methanosarcina barkeri as bioavailable reducing equivalents for CO₂ reduction and intermediates oxidation into CH₄. This results in 100% utilization of PLA waste hydrolysates for CH₄ production with an ultrahigh selectivity of >98% and an impressive reaction turnover frequency (TOF) of 1.24 × 10⁵ s⁻¹ cell⁻¹. Moreover, the biotic-abiotic platform successfully utilizes CO₂ to convert real-world postconsumer plastic products (straws, cups, knives, and forks) and various polyester-based plastics, such as polyglycolic acid (PGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) into CH₄ fuels. Critically, this piezo-driven strategy can be readily extended to other microbial cell factories, significantly enhancing the efficiency of the production of valuable chemicals such as acetate and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This work establishes a mechanical energy-driven, carbon-negative platform for sustainable waste upgrading, paving a low-carbon and resource-circular avenue for plastic waste management and renewable energy production.

Keywords

Piezobiotic hybrid system / Mechanical energy / Biodegradable polyester plastics / Polylactic acid / CH₄ fuel production

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Lu Chen, Xiaoqiang An, Yuan Wen, Shunan Zhao, Huijuan Liu, Jiuhui Qu. A Low-Carbon Platform for Upgrading Waste Polyesters into Methane Fuels via Piezo-Driven Biocatalysis. Engineering 202511027 DOI:10.1016/j.eng.2025.11.027

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