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The Next Acetaminophen Tablet You Take Could Be Made From PET

This research could represent the first documented case of paracetamol production from plastic waste using E. coli bacteria.

In general terms, this process involves the rearrangement of the atoms of a hydroxamate ester molecule to form a new structure called isocyanate, a chemical intermediate that, when reacted with water, produces primary amines. “The funny thing is that we didn't have to teach the bacteria how to do the reaction: The trick was to realize that they already had the tools, and we just had to guide them,” explained the researcher in statements reported by El País. Despite these limitations, the scientists emphasize that their results open up new possibilities for addressing the problem of plastic waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with drug manufacturing.

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