Dechlorination of Polyvinyl Chloride via Solvothermal Treatment with Glycerol

Abstract

Solvothermal treatment using glycerol effectively removes chlorine from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Additive-free PVC was dechlorinated by treatment with glycerol in an autoclave at 200–240 °C. Liquid glycerol was coexistent with a red powder after the reaction at 200 °C. At reaction temperatures of 220 and 240 °C, the liquid glycerol disappeared, and carbonization proceeded to form a black powder. In this reaction, the glycerol was directly converted into glycidol. Epichlorohydrin was also produced from the glycerol via 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol as an intermediate. The PVC was converted into the polyethylene oxide structure, following the generation of the polyene structure by zip-elimination. Finally, the converted PVC was resinified by an epoxidation reaction with the glycidol and epichlorohydrin. Thus, glycerol acted as a useful reaction medium for this reaction system. The analysis of the decomposition ratio and dechlorination yield showed that the PVC was converted into solid products in high yields via chlorine release, and 30% of the glycerol was solidified by resinification at 240 °C. The effects of the additives on dechlorination were investigated using commercially available PVC sheets. Elemental analysis showed that the calorific value of the solid product dechlorinated at 240 °C was found to be higher than that of standard bituminous coal.

More Than 30 Years of PVC Recycling—Need for Regulation

“…Given the disappointing recycling rates, the question arises as to whether technical progress (e.g., swelling coupled with ball milling [32] or solvothermal treatment [33]) can improve mechanical or physical recycling results. The PVC industry sees opportunities here to increase "high quality recycling" [2].…”