Scientists convert used plastic bottles into vanilla flavouring
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh are using genetically engineered E coli bacteria to break down plastic bottles into vanillin, used in vanilla flavouring. Plastic bottles contain terephthalic acid that the bacteria can transform under similar conditions to brewing beer. Scientists are working to increase the conversion rate to reduce plastic waste, while also supplying vanillin with a lower environmental impact than synthesized vanillin. Learn more.
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