Method to accelerate biodegradation of aliphatic-aromatic co-polyesters by enzymatic treatment

1. A method for increasing hydrolytic degradation by microorganisms of an aliphatic-aromatic co-polyester,

the co-polyester comprising

at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or an ester thereof, and

at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or an ester thereof,

the aromatic acid comprising greater than 60 mol percent to about 99 mol percent of total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester,

the method comprising contacting at least one hydrolytic enzyme in aqueous solution to the co-polyester.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester comprises at least about 61 mol percent to about 90 mol percent of the at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the co-polyester comprises at least about 70 mol percent of the at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the co-polyester comprises at least about 75 mole percent of the at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the co-polyester comprises at least about 80 mole percent of the at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or ester is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, isophthalic acid, dimethyl isophthalate, 2,6-napthalene dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl-2,6-naphthalate and mixtures of these; and wherein the at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or ester is selected from the group consisting of succinic acid, dimethyl succinate, glutaric acid, dimethyl glutarate, 2-methylglutaric acid, 3-methylglutaric acid, adipic acid, dimethyl adipate, oxalic acid, dimethyl oxalate, malonic acid, dimethyl malonate, and mixtures of these.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the co-polyester comprises between about 1 mol percent and less than about 40 mol percent of the at least one aliphatic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the co-polyester comprises between about 20 mole percent and less than about 40 mol percent of the at least one aliphatic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester is combined with starch, protein, cellulose, wax, fillers, silicate fillers, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyamide or mixtures of these.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the co-polyester further comprises at least one diol.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one diol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethane diol, 1,3-propane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, ethylene glycol, di(ethylene glycol), tri(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(alkylene ether) glycols, poly(propylene ether) glycols and mixtures of these.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester further comprises a sulfonated compound.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the co-polyester comprises between about 0.1 to about 10.0 mole percent of a sulfonated compound, based on total diol or total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sulfonated compound is selected from the group consisting of a sulfonated mono or dicarboxylic acid or an ester or metal salt thereof.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sulfonated compound is selected from the group consisting of sulfosuccinic acid, 3-sulfobenzoic acid, 4-sulfobenzoic acid, 5-sulfosalicylic acid, sulfophthalic acid, sulfoterephthalic acid, and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid, or an ester or salt thereof.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the co-polyester comprises between about 20 mol percent to less than about 40 mole percent of the at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid or ester, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the co-polyester further comprises at least one diol.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester comprises about 17.5 mol percent dimethyl glutarate and about 2 mol percent dimethyl 5-sulfoisophthalate, sodium salt, based on total dicarboxylic acid in the co-polyester.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the co-polyester further comprises about 8 wt percent poly(ethylene glycol).

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises between about 0.1 to about 10 wt percent of the at least one hydrolytic enzyme.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydrolytic enzyme is selected from the group consisting of proteases, lipases, cutinases, esterases and a combination of these.

22. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one hydrolytic enzyme comprises a lipase.

23. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one hydrolytic enzyme comprises a lipase.

24. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one hydrolytic enzyme comprises a lipase.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting of the at least one hydrolytic enzyme is selected from the group consisting of spraying, painting, coating, applying, treating and mixing the at least one hydrolytic enzyme with the co-polyester.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting of the at least one hydrolytic enzyme to the co-polyester occurs before degradation of the co-polyester by the microorganisms.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester is situated in a waste context.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the waste context is solid waste, compost, or wastewater treatment system.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the contacting of the at least one hydrolytic enzyme is selected from the group consisting of spraying, painting, coating, applying, and mixing the at least one hydrolytic enzyme with the co-polyester.