Scientists Develop Plastic Bottle Eating Bacteria And Transform Them Into Useful Liquids

University of Edinburgh

In a groundbreaking study, scientists from the University of Edinburgh have engineered a strain of E. coli bacteria with the remarkable ability to transform discarded plastic bottles, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET), into valuable substances used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances.

Published in ACS Central Science, the research introduces a pioneering “one-pot” solution for repurposing plastic waste using microbes.

Every day, vast quantities of single-use PET bottles contribute to mountains of plastic waste. The world annually produces millions of tons of PET, and over 80% of it is designated for disposable products. The newly developed E. coli strain offers a transformative solution to this environmental challenge by upcycling discarded PET into adipic acid, a crucial component widely employed in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and fragrance industries.


Adipic acid is conventionally produced through an energy-intensive process heavily reliant on fossil fuels. The innovative approach by the University of Edinburgh’s research team, leveraging engineered E. coli bacteria, represents a sustainable alternative to the traditional methods, aiming to encourage industries to adopt fossil fuel alternatives.

The authors write, “This approach enables the upcycling of waste carbon from existing industrial processes to create circular economies, avoiding the environmental consequences of landfill and/or incineration processes.”

“Although chemical and biological approaches to the depolymerization and recycling of PET waste are being investigated, bio-upcycling technologies to convert plastic waste into higher value small molecules are less established.”

“Herein we report the first one-pot bioproduction of adipic acid from terephthalic acid and terephthalate waste in engineered Escherichia coli.”

The concept of utilizing bacteria and other microbes to biodegrade petro-based plastic polymers is not entirely novel, and various research initiatives have explored this avenue. Noteworthy instances include projects in the Arctic, a cemetery, the University of Texas, and Montana State University.

Building on earlier work where E. coli strains were developed to transform terephthalic acid, the main component in PET, into vanilla flavoring (vanillin), the Edinburgh team took the process a step further. They targeted terephthalic acid, converting it into muconic acid using one type of E. coli.


Subsequently, they transformed muconic acid into adipic acid using another E. coli strain. The team achieved a remarkable conversion rate, turning up to 79% of the terephthalic acid into adipic acid.

The success of this study opens doors for further exploration into creating higher-value products through similar microbial processes. By harnessing the power of bacteria to metabolize plastic waste into valuable compounds, the research offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to addressing the global plastic pollution crisis.

This transformative technology not only showcases the potential of synthetic biology in waste management but also emphasizes the importance of seeking innovative, nature-inspired solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste.

As the researchers continue their work, there is hope that such microbial approaches could play a pivotal role in reshaping our relationship with plastic and promoting a more sustainable, circular economy.

 

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