DOE OSTI · 3004840
Integrated low-temperature PVC and polyolefin upgrading
Abstract
Polyolefins and their chlorinated derivatives such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are among the most prevalent plastics in global production and waste streams. Traditional waste-to-energy methods such as incineration and pyrolysis, as well as most chemical upcycling methods for PVC utilization, require thorough, high-temperature dechlorination to prevent the release of toxic chlorinated compounds. Here, we present here a strategy for upgrading discarded PVC into chlorine-free fuel range hydrocarbons and hydrogen chloride in a single-stage process catalyzed by chloroaluminate ionic liquids. This approach offsets endothermic dechlorination and carbon-carbon bond cleavage with exothermic alkylation and hydrogen transfer by isobutane or isopentane in a low-temperature tandem process. The light isoalkanes are available from refinery processes and partly from recycling of the product stream. This process is suitable for handling real-world mixed and contaminated PVC and polyolefin waste streams.
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Zhang, Wei [East China Normal Univ. (ECNU), Shanghai (China)] (ORCID:0000000345066583), Yang, Boda [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0009000294477557), Jackson, Benjamin A. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000162058951), Zhao, Junbo [Technische Univ. Munchen, Garching (Germany)], Shi, Honghong [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000293038344), Camaioni, Donald M. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000222130960), Kim, Sungmin [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000166021320), Wang, Huamin [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000230362649), Szanyi, János [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000284425465), Lee, Mal-Soon [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)] (ORCID:000000016851177X), Chen, Jingguang G. [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000295922635), Lercher, Johannes A. [Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Technische Univ. Munchen, Garching (Germany)] (ORCID:0000000224951404). 2025-10-02. Integrated low-temperature PVC and polyolefin upgrading. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adx5285
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