Scientists have developed a viable method to produce common drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen using a pine-derived compound, offering a potential alternative to fossil fuel-based pharmaceutical production.
Using a compound called β-pinene derived from turpentine, a waste product of the paper industry, scientists have successfully synthesized these painkillers and other beneficial chemicals. Their great success could potentially reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and promote a more environmentally friendly approach to drug production. The study related to this was published in the journal ChemSusChem.
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, explaining the importance of the discovery of him and his colleagues.
To achieve this, the scientists used reactors with continuous flow, enabling continuous chemical reactions. Through a series of calibrated reactions, they were able to convert β-pinene into intermediates for acetaminophen and ibuprofen, achieving effective and scalable yields.
However, further development is needed to maximize their method for commercial production, and it is expected to currently be more expensive than oil-based processes. Nevertheless, investing in sustainable alternatives can now help preserve our future and mitigate the environmental impacts of pharmaceutical production.
The use of oil for the production of medicines is unsustainable. Not only does it contribute to rising CO2 emissions, but the price varies dramatically as we depend heavily on the geopolitical stability of countries with large oil reserves, and it will only go up, Tibbets said, stressing the urgency of the transition from oil-based pharmaceuticals to those from alternative sources.
In addition to the immediate benefits, the transition to alternative materials and processes is essential to combat climate change. Fossil fuels are limited resources, and adopting sustainable practices represents a long-term solution to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the environmental consequences associated with oil extraction and refining.