<
https://www.sciencealert.com/new-breakthrough-makes-painkillers-out-of-paper-waste-instead-of-oil>
'Many common drugs consist of chemicals sourced from crude oil, a situation
that needs to change if we're to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Now scientists have managed to make two well-known painkillers, acetaminophen
(also known as paracetamol) and ibuprofen, out of a compound found in pine
trees. The compound is also a waste product from the paper industry and could
be a sustainable replacement for the oil chemicals.
The compound in question is β-pinene, and it comes from turpentine. The
researchers were also able to make several other useful chemicals from
turpentine, including ones that could be developed into beta blockers, asthma
drugs, and cleaning products.
"Our turpentine-based biorefinery model uses waste chemical by-products from
the paper industry to produce a spectrum of valuable, sustainable chemicals
that can be used in a wide range of applications from perfumes to paracetamol,"
says Josh Tibbetts, a chemist at the University of Bath in the UK.'
Via Rixty Dixet.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
