(312h) One-Pot Conversion of PVC Containing Co-Mingled Wastes

Co-mingled wastes containing organic and synthetic polymer materials are difficult to recycle due to their complex compositions. Each year, billion tons of co-mingled wastes are sent to landfills each year, causing significant environmental and economic burdens. Recycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) containing wastes is particularly challenging due to the release of toxic chlorinated dioxins and corrosive acid when recycled. In this study, cellulose, PVC and non-PVC plastics such as PE, PP and PS, were co-converted in tetrahydrofuran (THF). During the co-conversion, PVC-released HCl acted as an in-situ acid catalyst to promote cellulose conversion to levoglucosan. It showed that the presence of non-PVC plastic polymers facilitates the cellulose conversion by PVC-derived acid through influencing the solvent acidity. After co-conversion, dechlorinated solids containing non-PVC polymers and cellulose-derived char are recovered. The highest HHV of 46.34 MJ/kg was obtained in the solid produced the PP containing wastes, which are even better than HHV of diesel (44.4 MJ/kg). SEM analysis shows hydrocarbons and cellulose-derived char were chemically interweaved into porous solids. When the solids were used as oil absorbents, they demonstrated much superior absorbent capacities than hydrochars derived from the same waste feedstocks.