Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have developed a groundbreaking method using genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste—commonly found in water bottles—into the painkiller paracetamol (acetaminophen). This process breaks down PET into terephthalic acid, which is then biologically converted into paracetamol through a natural chemical reaction (Lossen rearrangement) inside the bacteria at room temperature, producing virtually no carbon emissions and achieving up to 90% yield within 24 hours. This approach not only offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-dependent drug manufacturing but also addresses plastic pollution by transforming waste into valuable medicine, demonstrating the potential of “engineering biology” for circular economy solutions, though scaling for commercial use requires further development.

Source: Earth.Com