Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom have made a breakthrough discovery in the field of plastic waste recycling, demonstrating that ordinary household plastic can be converted into basic chemical compounds and used in the production of medicines, including anticancer and other essential drugs.

The study, the findings of which were published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, showed that plastic bottles and textiles made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a widely used plastic in packaging, can be chemically recycled through a ruthenium-based semi-hydrogenation process.

As a result, the complex polymer chains of PET are broken down and converted into a simpler substance, the ethyl-4-hydroxymethyl benzoate (EHMB), which is a valuable intermediate component for medical drug synthesis.

This EHMB chemical is used as a key “building block” in the creation of medical products such as Imatinib (widely used against certain types of cancer), tranexamic acid (an adjunct used for blood clotting), as well as in the production of some pesticides.

Typically, such “building blocks” are obtained from petrochemical raw materials, which is associated with a significant environmental impact and the generation of large amounts of waste. The new approach makes it possible to replace fossil raw materials with plastic waste, thereby reducing pressure on the environment.

In addition to medical applications, the researchers found that EHMB can also be used to create new recyclable polyesters, paving the way toward more sustainable materials.

According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Amit Kumar from the School of Chemistry at St. Andrews, this discovery redefines plastic as a promising raw material for obtaining high-value APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and other chemical products.

Such an approach to plastic recycling could help accelerate the transition to a circular economy, in which waste is transformed into valuable resources rather than simply disposed of.