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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, MODERN MANAGEMENT, APPLIED SCIENCE & SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJEMMASSS) [ Vol. 8 | No. 2 (II) | April - June, 2026 ]

A Comprehensive Review on Polymer and Plastic Decomposition: Mechanism, Environmental Impact and Sustainable Approaches

Manisha Yadav & Dr. Manisha Sheoran

Plastic waste is very harmful burdens on the environment. Chemical recycling do not decrease quality repeated regeneration, but it is requires harsh reaction conditions, this is environmentally unfriendly. Under the mild conditions recycling is possible for enzymatic catalyst, but it faces inherent limitations like poor stability, high cost, and narrow substrate applicability. Biomimetic catalysis may provide a new avenue by combining high enzyme-like activity with the stability of inorganic materials. Biomimetic catalysis has demonstrated great potential in biomass conversion and has recently shown promising progress in plastic degradation. plastic degradation from biomimetic perspectives: the imitation of active centers and substrate-binding clefts. Similarity between biomass and plastics, relevant work is discussion to draw inspiration. The conclusion is highlighting the challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable plastic recycling via a biomimetic approach recycling technologies are, chemical depolymerization a route to virgin quality of recycled plastics, especially when valorizing complex, waste streams poorly clean by mechanical methods.

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