Scientists in Scotland have engineered bacteria to convert plastic into a precursor to the painkiller acetaminophen. The bacteria, Escherichia coli, were genetically modified to perform a Lossen rearrangement, converting polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). At room temperature, 92% of the PET was converted into PABA over 48 hours. This process has the potential to create a greener production system for acetaminophen, which is currently produced using fossil fuels. The engineered bacteria performed the conversion without detectable carbon emissions, providing a sustainable alternative. According to Professor Stephen Wallace, this research demonstrates that PET plastic can be transformed into valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease. The discovery opens up new possibilities for using microbes as tiny chemical factories, and it is likely that many bacteria can perform similar transmutations. This breakthrough could lead to more sustainable and environmentally-friendly production methods for various chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Researchers have discovered that certain common bacteria are capable of breaking down plastic bottles into a key component used to produce the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol.
