How microbes convert waste plastic bottles into vanillin

By Neil Goalby2021-07-09T06:59:00

Silhouettes of E coli swirling around a crushed plastic bottle

Source: Composite image, all © Shutterstock

Show students how chemistry is upcycling plastic monomers into higher value alternative products

Scientists in the UK have genetically engineered Escherichia coli to transform plastic waste into vanillin. Instead of simply recycling plastic waste into more plastic, the system demonstrates for the first time that you can use plastic as a feedstock for microbial cells and transform it into something with higher value. The modified E coli produces enzymes to convert terephthalic acid to vanillin through an oxidation, a methylation and two reduction steps.

Use this starter slide with your class to give them a new context when studying the advantages of recycling.

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