Integrated low-temperature PVC and polyolefin upgrading

Zhang, Wei; Yang, Boda; Jackson, Benjamin A.; Zhao, Junbo; Shi, Honghong; Camaioni, Donald M.; Kim, Sungmin; Wang, Huamin; Szanyi, János; Lee, Mal-Soon; Chen, Jingguang G.; Lercher, Johannes A.

doi:10.1126/science.adx5285

Title: Integrated low-temperature PVC and polyolefin upgrading

Journal Article · Thu Oct 02 00:00:00 UTC 2025 · Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adx5285 · OSTI ID:3004840

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East China Normal Univ. (ECNU), Shanghai (China)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Technische Univ. Munchen, Garching (Germany)
Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); Technische Univ. Munchen, Garching (Germany)

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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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 3004840

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--209489

Journal Information:: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6768 Vol. 390; ISSN 1095-9203; ISSN 0036-8075

Publisher:: AAASCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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