Archive · 24 Jun 2025
Scientists Convert Plastic Waste Into Painkiller in 24 Hours
Scientists used bacteria to turn plastic waste into medicine, specifically paracetamol, which helps with pain.
This new method uses waste plastic, commonly found in bottles, instead of the usual fossil fuels.
It's quick, works at room temperature in a small space, and could help with plastic pollution and cleaner medicine production.
This process could help reduce plastic pollution and lower the need for fossil fuels in drug production.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh converted plastic into paracetamol.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria were used to transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.
The process could help reduce plastic pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.
The process has a quick turnaround time, with results in 24 hours.
The research was published in Nature Chemistry and supported by EPSRC and AstraZeneca.
- Who
- Scientists at the University of Edinburgh with support from AstraZeneca.
- What
- Researchers converted plastic into paracetamol.
- When
- Results are obtained within 24 hours.
- Where
- The research was conducted at the University of Edinburgh.
- Why
- To address plastic pollution and reduce reliance on fossil fuels in drug manufacturing.
Benefits
Challenges
Impacts
Benefits
Sustainable drug production
Challenges
Reduce reliance on fossil fuels
Reduction
Benefits
Reduce plastic pollution
Challenges
Reduce waste
- Process
- Conversion of PET plastic into paracetamol
- Bacteria Used
- Escherichia coli
- Plastic Source
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
- Main Product
- Paracetamol
- Speed
- Results within 24 hours
- Funding
- EPSRC and AstraZeneca
- Publication
- Nature Chemistry
