Biodegradation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate by a newly isolated Enterobacter sp. HY1 and characterization of its esterase properties.

Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) is an important compound produced from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) cleavage. It was selected as the representative substance for the study of PET degradation. A bacterial strain HY1 that could degrade BHET was isolated and identified as Enterobacter sp.