University of Edinburgh researchers have developed a unique method which uses common bacterium to transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into the popular painkiller acetaminophen (paracetamol), leaving behind virtually no carbon emissions.
Polyethylene terephthalate is a strong, lightweight plastic commonly used for water bottles and food packaging and directly contributes over 350 million tons of waste annually with most ending up in landfills or polluting the ocean. While PET recycling is possible, researchers point out that the process merely creates other plastic products which continue to contribute to pollution.
In their work, which is published in the journal Nature Chemistry, the team of scientists genetically programmed E. coli to transform terephthalic acid derived from PET into the active ingredient paracetamol. Combined with a room temperature fermentation process, the entire conversion can be completed in under 24 hours.
The team notes that further optimization will be necessary to commercialize the process, however, around 90% of the product made during the terephthalic acid reaction was paracetamol.
"This work demonstrates that PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic—it can be transformed by microorganisms into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease," said Stephen Wallace, Chair of Chemical Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh.
"We are bringing in exceptional companies like AstraZeneca to work with Stephen and others at the University to translate these cutting-edge discoveries into world-changing innovations," added Ian Hatch, Head of Consultancy at EI.
"Engineering biology offers immense potential to disrupt our reliance on fossil fuels, build a circular economy and create sustainable chemicals and materials, and we would invite potential collaborators to get in touch."