Bacteria transforms plastic waste into paracetamol
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have figured out how to turn old plastic bottles into paracetamol, offering a greener way to make medicine and tackle plastic pollution at the same time.
How the team made the breakthrough
The team broke down PET plastic and fed it to specially engineered E. coli bacteria.
These bacteria transformed the plastic leftovers into a key ingredient for paracetamol using a reaction never seen before in living cells.
Hurdles before this can go mainstream
With some extra tweaks, the bacteria made paracetamol quickly—getting up to 92% yield within two days and without harsh chemicals.
There are still hurdles before this can go mainstream, but as lead scientist Dr. Stephen Wallace put it, this work shows the potential of using engineered bacteria to turn plastic waste into useful products.