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Transforming Persistent Polyolefins into Biodegradable Materials

Date: Wednesday 3 February 2027 15:00 - 16:30  Add this event to your calendar
Location:SEMS seminar room

Transforming Persistent Polyolefins into Biodegradable Materials

Abstract: This talk will present evidence that polyolefins can completely biodegrade and mineralise under environmentally relevant conditions. Polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are among the most widely produced plastics yet remain persistent in the environment. Trying to solve this issue has led us to create a masterbatch formulation designed to integrate with these materials and change the outcome. Beyond biodegradation testing through CO₂ measurements, metagenomic DNA analysis of post-incubation soils revealed striking shifts in microbial metabolic activity, including enrichment of fatty acid degradation pathways that were absent in conventional polymer controls, providing unique genomic-level evidence of genuine polymer assimilation. Ecotoxicological testing confirmed no adverse effects across soil and aquatic organisms throughout the (bio)degradation process. Together, these findings challenge the assumption that polyolefin persistence is inevitable and offer a pragmatic and scalable solution to address plastic pollution in regions where waste collection systems are still evolving.

Dr Florence Huynh is VP of Innovation at Polymateria, a start-up based at Imperial College London that develops biotransformation technology enabling polyolefins (PE and PP) to biodegrade. Over the last seven years, she has co-developed this technology and leads a multidisciplinary R&D team. Florence holds a PhD in chemistry from Cardiff University and trained as an engineer at INP-ENSIACET, Toulouse. She is a recognised expert in microplastic and biodegradation of plastic field and was recently awarded the RSC Rising Star in Industry Award in 2025.

Arranged by:Queen Mary University of London
Contact:Haixue Yan
Email:h.x.yan@qmul.ac.uk