Expanding the Enzymatic Landscape for Polyurethane Degradation of Novel Bacterial Urethanases

Polyurethanes (PURs) represent a significant challenge in plastic waste management due to their chemical resilience and limited recycling options. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of five novel bacterial urethanases, expanding the enzymatic repertoire for targeted PUR depolymerization. These enzymes demonstrated carbamate-cleaving activity optimally under alkaline conditions, maintaining stability across a pH range of 7 to 10 and varying thermal and solvent tolerances. Two candidate enzymes, u17 u15 collectively exhibited high activity, catalytic efficiency, and thermostability, establishing a strong foundation for further optimization. Among them, u15 emerged