Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash (illustrative)
On 23 June 2025, researchers at the University of Edinburgh reported in Nature Chemistry that engineered E. coli bacteria can turn a molecule made from PET plastic waste into paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen. The process works by fermentation, much like brewing beer.
Key facts
The team started from terephthalic acid, a building block obtained by breaking down PET, the plastic used in drinks bottles.
Engineered E. coli converted it into paracetamol's active ingredient with a yield of about 90%, in less than 24 hours.
The reaction runs at room temperature and, according to the researchers, generates virtually no carbon emissions.
The study revealed a new biological version of a chemical reaction, the Lossen rearrangement, taking place inside living cells.
Why it matters
Paracetamol is traditionally made from fossil fuels such as crude oil, while plastic waste of the kind used here amounts to more than 350 million tonnes a year, according to the researchers. Turning waste plastic into a valuable medicine gives used PET an economic reason to be collected and upcycled.
Worth noting
This is a laboratory proof of concept. The researchers say more development is needed before it could be used for commercial drug manufacturing. The work was supported by the drug company AstraZeneca.