Room-temperature co-upcycling of polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene

Zhiwen Gao, Yu Wang, Lei Yuan, Xinrui Shi, Yihao Shang, Jingang Jiang, Min Zhang, Shuhui Fang, Wei Zhang () and Yue Liu ()
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Zhiwen Gao: East China Normal University
Yu Wang: East China Normal University
Lei Yuan: East China Normal University
Xinrui Shi: East China Normal University
Yihao Shang: East China Normal University
Jingang Jiang: East China Normal University
Min Zhang: East China Normal University
Shuhui Fang: East China Normal University
Wei Zhang: East China Normal University
Yue Liu: East China Normal University

Nature Sustainability, 2024, vol. 7, issue 12, 1691-1698

Abstract: Abstract Co-upcycling of mixed plastics offers a viable approach to reusing carbon resources in plastic wastes and realizing circular economy. However, the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) often complicates the co-upcycling processes, because chlorine (Cl) released from PVC can deactivate catalysts and enter final products. Moreover, existing plastic upcycling processes usually require harsh reaction conditions. Here we present a strategy enabling efficient co-upcycling of PVC and polypropylene (PP) at mild conditions. We use chlorine-resistant ionic liquids butylpyridinium chloride-aluminium chloride to dechlorinate PVC and simultaneously depolymerize the PP–PVC mixture into Cl-free liquid hydrocarbons, with the co-production of hydrogen chloride (HCl) as byproduct. This conversion approach operates at room temperature without the use of external hydrogen or noble metal catalysts. The Cl-free liquid hydrocarbon yield is up to 97.4 wt% of C and H in the feed PP–PVC mixture. This work can incentivize further technical development in plastic upcycling and improve the sustainability of plastic waste management.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01468-7

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