Bacteria transform plastic waste into paracetamol

Paracetamol production could be revolutionised by the discovery that a common bacterium can turn everyday plastic waste into the painkiller, a study reveals

A team at the University of Edinburgh has developed a process that converts discarded plastic bottles into paracetamol with almost no carbon emissions, researchers report.

The method uses genetically engineered Escherichia coli – commonly known as E. coli – to transform terephthalic acid – a compound obtained from recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – into acetaminophen, the active ingredient of the pain-killer in less than 24 hours. Conducted at room temperature in a fermentation vessel similar to those used in brewing, the reaction yielded paracetamol in 90% of cases.

Paracetamol is usually manufactured from dwindling fossil-fuel feedstocks, and the factories that produce it consume thousands of tonnes of crude-oil derivatives each year, contributing significantly to greenhouse-gas emissions. By contrast, the new biological route offers a low-emission alternative while helping to tackle the 350 million tonnes of PET waste generated annually worldwide.

“PET plastic is not merely waste destined to become more plastic – microorganisms can turn it into valuable products,” said Professor Stephen Wallace, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Chair of Chemical Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. “Our work shows that sustainable chemicals, including medicines, can be manufactured while reducing both waste and reliance on fossil fuels.”

The study, published in Nature Chemistry, was supported by an EPSRC CASE award and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, working in partnership with Edinburgh Innovations. The team now aims to scale up the process to commercial levels.

Engineering biology is a strategic strength at the University of Edinburgh, which hosts the United Kingdom’s largest concentration of researchers in the field. Experts say the latest findings underscore the potential for integrating traditional chemistry with living “microbial factories” to build a circular economy and cut greenhouse-gas emissions.