Story

First production of record PET-degrading PHL7 wild type with high purity

06/2020

12/2020

Degradation of post-consumer PET in 1 L flask
48 h for complete PET desintegration

01/2021

02/2022

First optimization of PHL7 > Generation 1
Degradation performance increased by 40 %

07/2022

05/2023

07/2023

08/2023

1 L reactor trials & further PHL7 optimiztation > Generation 2

24 h for complete PET desintegration

Best idea at start-up contest Leipziger Gründungsnacht

Further optimization of PHL7 > Generation 3
13 h for complete PET disintegration

First functional prototype of Degradation Analyzer

Proven degradation activity of PHL7 for further polyesters
PLA, PBS, PBAT, TPS

Scaled full functional prototype of Degradation Analyzer
8 chambers -1D array - parallelable upto 72 chambers

09/2023

10/2024

Patent for recycling pre-processing issued and officially disclosed
“Process for the enzymatic recycling of polyesters with crystalline components”

Full scale & optimized design for Degradation Analyzer
48 chambers (2D array) - parallelisability to 96 and multiples

Further optimization of PHL7 > Generation 4

Hyper-thermo-stable enzymes - melting temp. above 95 °C

02/2024

05/2024

Further scaling of Degradation Analyzer
24 chambers - 2D array

Completion of EU project Enzycle
90 l enzymatic hydrolysis under industrial condition with recovery of TPA and synthesis of rPET in kg scale

05/2024

01/2024

Granted EFRE validation founding from SAB
volume: 225k €

12/2024

01/2025

02/2025
aimed for

Positive review feedback for applied patent
System and method for measuring the degradation of
polymer films by polymer-degrading reagents

Start of EXIST Forschungstransfer

Founding of > 1 Mio. € for 2025 & 2026

Foundation of ESTER Biotech GmbH

Exciting
journey