This technology provides a new catalytic approach for processing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste to selectively remove chlorine and simultaneously generate hydrogen. The process addresses long-standing challenges associated with PVC recycling, including harsh processing conditions, equipment corrosion, and poor product selectivity. By operating under relatively mild conditions and without external hydrogen or solvent inputs, the technology enables cleaner handling of PVC-derived materials and creates a valuable co-product, improving the practicality of PVC recovery for industrial users. The dechlorinated solid carbonaceous product generated in this process can be co-processed with other chlorine-free plastics, overcoming the long-standing challenge of processing PVC-containing plastic mixtures.
Description
PVC represents a significant fraction of global plastic production but is rarely reused at commercial scale because conventional thermal and catalytic approaches require high temperatures, added reactants, extensive solvent use, or difficult solid-solid separations. In addition, uncontrolled chlorine removal can generate corrosive by-products and contaminate other plastics.
ORNL has developed a catalytic process based on liquid metal particles that promotes controlled removal of chlorine from PVC under comparatively mild operating conditions. The approach achieves high dechlorination performance while producing a hydrogen co-product and avoids the need for hydrogen co-feed or reaction solvents. The chlorine removed is sequestrated in a liquid stream after a straightforward acetone wash at room temperature. The process also enables straightforward separation of the treated polymer from the catalytic material.
This combination of selective chlorine removal, simplified downstream handling, and elimination of additional chemical inputs offers a new pathway for managing PVC streams in industrial recycling and materials recovery operations, while reducing operational complexity and equipment exposure to corrosive species.
Benefits
- Enables high levels of chlorine removal from PVC under milder processing conditions
- Produces hydrogen as a valuable co-product
- Avoids the use of external hydrogen and reaction solvents
- Simplifies post-reaction material separation
Applications and Industries
- Plastic recycling and polymer recovery operations
- Chemical and materials processing industries
- Waste management and materials reclamation facilities
Contact
To learn more about this technology, email [email protected] or call 865-574-1051
Researchers
Contact
To learn more about this technology, email [email protected] or call 865-574-1051.