depolymerizing
Reversing polymer formation
Depolymerizing is breaking down a polymer into its smaller component molecules or monomers.
The process reverses polymerization, which originally linked those units together.
Depolymerizing has applications in recycling plastics and in biological processes where enzymes break down complex molecules: The bacteria are capable of depolymerizing certain plastics into reusable chemicals.
Water-induced bond cleavage
- thermolysisDecomposition by heat
- scissionAct of cutting
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- bond cleavageBreaking molecular connections
photodegradation · alkaline hydrolysis · unzipping · backbiting
Involving biological catalysts
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- amylaseStarch-digesting enzyme
- proteaseProtein-cleaving enzyme
- lipaseFat-dissolving enzyme
Single molecular units
- fragmentsIncomplete broken pieces
- dimersTwo-part molecular compounds
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
- building blocksBasic units for construction
hydrolysis
Water-induced bond cleavage
- thermolysisDecomposition by heat
- scissionAct of cutting
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
bond cleavage · photodegradation · alkaline hydrolysis · unzipping · backbiting
enzymatic
Involving biological catalysts
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- amylaseStarch-digesting enzyme
- proteaseProtein-cleaving enzyme
circular economy
Regenerative resource management model
monomers
Single molecular units
depolymerizingpolymerizing
Linking monomers into chains
polymerising · synthesizing · building · assembling · constructing
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