Determination of key-thermodynamic parameters using a kinetic modeling approach to describe the post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) hydrolysis catalyzed by cutinase from Humicola insolens

Abstract The search for a straightforward technology for post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PC-PET) degradation is essential to develop a circular economy. In this context, PET hydrolases such as cutinases can be used as bioplatforms for this purpose. Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC) is a promising biocatalyst for PC-PET hydrolysis. Therefore, this work evaluated a kinetic model, and it was observed that the HiC seems not to be inhibited by any of the main PET hydrolysis products such as terephthalic acid (TPA), mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET), and bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET). The excellent fitting of the experimental data to a kinetic model based on enzyme-limiting conditions validates its employment for describing the enzymatic PC-PET hydrolysis using two-particle size ranges (0.075-0.250, and 0.250-0.600 mm) and temperatures (40, 50, 55, 60, 70, and 80 ºC). The Arrhenius law provided a reliable parameter (activation energy of 98.9 ± 2.6 kJ mol −1 ) for enzymatic hydrolysis, which compares well with reported values for chemical PET hydrolysis. The thermodynamic parameters of PC-PET hydrolysis corresponded to activation enthalpy of 96.1 ± 3.6 kJ mol -1 and activation entropy of 10.8 ± 9.8 J mol -1 K -1 . Thus, the observed rate enhancement with temperature was attributed to the enthalpic contribution, and this understanding is helpful to the comprehension of enzymatic behavior on hydrolysis reaction.