The pharmaceutical industry has long been known for its negative impact on the environment, with many medications relying on crude oil as a key ingredient. However, researchers at the University of Bath have discovered a way to produce two of the most commonly used painkillers, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, sustainably from a waste byproduct of the paper industry. This breakthrough could help reduce the industry’s carbon emissions and combat climate change.
According to a study by The Conversation, the pharmaceutical industry produces significantly higher CO2 emissions compared to its revenue than the automotive sector. This highlights the need for the industry to reduce its environmental impact. A large portion of the industry’s emissions come from chemical precursor substances based on crude oil, which are required for many medications. The researchers at the University of Bath have found a way to produce Paracetamol and Ibuprofen without using crude oil-based precursors. Instead, they use ?-pinene, a naturally occurring compound found in pine trees that is a waste product of the paper industry.
The researchers successfully converted ?-pinene into the two painkillers and were also able to synthesize other precursor chemicals from terpenes, including 4-HAP, which is a precursor to medications such as beta-blockers and the asthma inhalation medication Salbutamol. The new process aims to replace crude oil products in the chemical industry with more sustainable alternatives. The researchers hope that customers will be willing to pay a slightly higher price for fully plant-based products. While the new manufacturing process is currently more expensive than using crude oil, the researchers believe that it has the potential to be scaled up and become more cost-effective in the future.
