Science

Scientists have developed an innovative method to convert waste PET plastic (commonly found in bottles and packaging) into acetaminophen, a widely used painkiller typically derived from fossil fuels. By chemically breaking down PET and feeding the resulting molecules to engineered E. coli bacteria, researchers can produce acetaminophen in a lab within 24 hours at room temperature, achieving a 92% yield. This eco-friendly process, which uses a modified chemical reaction called the Lossen rearrangement, could address both plastic pollution and reliance on fossil fuels. While promising, scaling this technology for industrial use will take time.

Scientists have developed an innovative method to convert waste PET plastic (commonly found in bottles and packaging) into acetaminophen, a widely used painkiller typically derived from fossil fuels. By chemically breaking down PET and feeding the resulting molecules to engineered E. coli bacteria, researchers can produce acetaminophen in a lab within 24 hours at room temperature, achieving a 92% yield. This eco-friendly process, which uses a modified chemical reaction called the Lossen rearrangement, could address both plastic pollution and reliance on fossil fuels. While promising, scaling this technology for industrial use will take time.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01845-5