Electrochemical Generation of Chlorine and Hydrogen from Waste Poly(vinyl chloride)

Abstract

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is ubiquitous in construction, cable insulation, and medical devices, yet it is among the least-recycled consumer plastics. Chemical recycling methods are needed for end-of-life waste PVC management, considering that mechanical and thermochemical recycling methods are challenging. Toward this goal, we introduce an electrochemical approach for generating chlorine and hydrogen from waste PVC, drawing inspiration from producing chlorine from brine (chlor-alkali). At the cathode, methanol reduction generates hydrogen and methoxide, a potent base for PVC dechlorination at mild temperatures. At the anode, chloride oxidation generates chlorine in a paired electrolysis. By coupling this electrolysis with base-mediated dechlorination in a secondary step, we can convert waste PVC materials into commodity chemicals, offering a potentially scalable approach for electrochemical recycling.