Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41050452›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2025

Diving into commercial cellulase formulations for circular polyester/cotton separation through targeted depolymerization of cotton.

Jeannie Egan, Michael Barta, Patrick Pointner, Birgit Herbinger, Judith Rudolf-Scholik, Agnes Gruenfelder, David Lilek, Thomas Rosenau, Georg M Guebitz, Christian B Schimper

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jeannie EganJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Michael BartaJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Patrick PointnerJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Birgit HerbingerJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Judith Rudolf-ScholikJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Agnes GruenfelderJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
David LilekJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Thomas RosenauDepartment of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Resources, Institute of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, BOKU University, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Georg M GuebitzDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, BOKU University, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Christian B SchimperJosef Ressel Centre "Recovery Strategies for Textiles", University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, Biotech Campus Tulln, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rapid growth of the textile industry, driven by fast fashion trends, has significantly increased textile waste, particularly blends of polyester (PET) and cotton fibers, and efficient recycling of blended textiles requires effective fiber separation methods, yet current strategies face substantial limitations. This study investigates the performance of commercially available cellulase formulations for enzymatic depolymerization of cotton and suggests an optimized activity pattern for novel reactor systems for recycling of PET/cotton blends. Thirty-five cellulase formulations intended for biopolishing, stonewashing, or biomass degradation were extensively characterized through biochemical assays (protein quantification, reducing sugar content, SDS-PAGE, and enzyme-specific activity assays). The formulations were further categorized according to their physical state, optimal pH and temperature class, and use case (biopolishing, stonewashing, and degradation), and trends were observed between the categories. Ten formulations were selected for further practical evaluation in a controlled reactor system to determine cotton removal efficacy from a blended PET/cotton fabric based on cotton weight loss. Enzyme activity assays did not correlate directly with reactor performance, suggesting that conventional cellulase assays may inadequately predict real-world separation efficiency. Protein efficiency was introduced as a critical metric for evaluating enzyme efficacy and economic viability. Here this variable was defined as a specific activity, relating the fiber separation efficiency in the reactor to the protein content of the formulation to indicate how effective the proteins were at separation. Formulations exhibiting balanced high performance in both weight loss and protein efficiency predominantly contained high proportions of endoglucanase activity, supported by moderate cellobiohydrolase and minor beta-glucosidase activities.

Indexed as

activity assaysbulk hydrolysiscellulaseenzyme technologypolyester/cotton separation

Identifiers

PMID41050452
PMCPMC12491305

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.