Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol
Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol
www.theguardian.com
Scientists use bacteria to turn plastic waste into paracetamol
31 comments
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Note that this works for PET (It's a pet peeve of mine when these articles just say "plastic" in a way that makes it sound, like this can recycle all types of plastics), and more precisely, PET after chemical processing into something else, useable by the modified bacteria. While still a great avenue for recycling, the article does not elaborate how feasible this could become in large scales (unless I missed a sentence or paragraph, that can happen with my brain.):
The team made their discovery when they took polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – a type of plastic often found in food packaging and bottles – and, using sustainable chemical methods, converted it into a new material.
When the researchers incubated this material with a harmless strain of E coli they found it was converted into another substance known as Paba in a process that must have involved a Lossen rearrangement.
Crucially, while the Lossen rearrangement typically involves harsh laboratory conditions, it occurred spontaneously in the presence of the E coli, with the researchers discovering it was catalysed by phosphate within the cells themselves.
The team add that Paba is an essential substance that bacteria need for growth, in particular the synthesis of DNA, and is usually made within the cell from other substances. However, the E coli used in the experiments was genetically modified to block these pathways, meaning the bacteria had to use the PET-based material.
The researchers say the results are exciting as they suggest plastic waste can be converted into biological material.
“It is a way to just completely hoover up plastic waste,” said Wallace.
The researchers then genetically modified the E coli further, inserting two genes – one from mushrooms and one from soil bacteria – that enabled the bacteria to convert PABA into paracetamol.
The team say that by using this form of E coli they were able to turn the PET-based starting material into paracetamol in under 24 hours, with low emissions and a yield of up to 92%.
While further work would be needed to produce paracetamol in this way at commercial levels, the results could have a practical application.
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inb4 microplastics found in paracetamol
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I was just thinking that. We should check whether these scientists are all just three NileReds in a trench coat.
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*labcoat
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Yeah because paracetamol, and most other modern drugs, are purely petroleum-based. Thank the Rockefellers for that!
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“People don’t realise that paracetamol comes from oil currently,” said Prof Stephen Wallace, the lead author of the research from the University of Edinburgh.
TIL: https://newatlas.com/science/paracetamol-manufacturing-trees/
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We have a former chemist working in our department and I talked to him about skin care etc and I mentioned Vaseline and said that it's made from or is a byproduct of refining oil. He said something along the lines of "yeah, basically everything is".
His view was probably warped, but still an interesting point
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To be fair, Vaseline literally says 'Petroleum Jelly' on the label. They're not hiding it as 'headache relief.'
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No, it's actually crazy.
Clothing. Chewing gum. Carpets. Detergents (meaning most "soap"). Paint. Glue.
Packaging (obviously), but the paper and metal stuff usually has a plastic coating
If you aren't sure what something is made of, it's probably petrochemical... And even then, there's likely some coating or binder
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This sounds like something you'd hear about in Fullmetal Alchemist.
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full plastic alchemist
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I like paracetamol.
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Getting bacterial enzymes that can break down HDPE is tough. I read that the issue is there isn't a good place for the enzyme to "dig in" on the polymer strand.
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While many plastics have a really bad reputation for recyclability, isn't HDPE (#2 plastic) one of the few stand outs that recycles very well?
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We often use plastic because bacteria can't break it down.
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Yup but it is a catch 22.
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Mix it with some OG Kush for Slippery and Sneaky effects
31 comments
Plastic waste has been a real headache for scientists lately, this solution would cure that headache in more ways than one
Soothe headaches, destroy livers but no more microplastics. I mean, why not.
Ya this sounds like a solution that could solve plastic waste by polluting the planet with extreme amounts of some other compound, and ultimately be far worse.