Researchers transform paper industry by-product into eco-friendly painkillers

In a study published in the journal ChemSusChem, the researchers detail their method of using turpentine, a waste by-product from the paper industry, to produce chemical precursors for common painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Currently, these drugs are synthesized using chemical precursors obtained from crude oil, which contributes to carbon dioxide emissions and environmental degradation.

The team's innovative "bio-refinery" process involves converting β-pinene, a component found in turpentine, into pharmaceutical precursors. They successfully synthesized paracetamol, ibuprofen, beta-blocker precursors, the asthma inhaler drug salbutamol, and even household cleaners using turpentine.

This approach not only provides a sustainable alternative to crude oil-derived precursors but also offers potential for more stable drug prices, since turpentine is not subject to geopolitical pressures affecting oil prices.