E.coli can turn plastic into painkillers, chemists discover

PARIS: Scientists have found a way to use the bacteria E.Coli to convert plastic waste into a popular painkiller, a study said on Monday, though outside experts doubted the technique would make a dent in the fight against plastic pollution.

Paracetamol, which is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide, is made from the derivatives of fossil fuels, often by Asia-based subcontractors using cheap, polluting methods that contribute to climate change.

The world is also facing an escalating crisis of plastic pollution, with countries set for another bruising round of negotiations in August in the hope of sealing an international treaty to reduce plastic waste.

The British team of researchers behind the new study sought to find a solution to the two problems by roping in a third -- E.coli, which is normally known for making people sick when they eat contaminated food.

First the chemists used a molecule derived from PET plastic, which is used in bottles and many other plastic products the world over, to spark a chemical reaction in a strain of E.coli. By genetically modifying the bacteria, the chemists were able to transform their molecule into acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol.