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Critical advances and assessment on chemo-biological conversions of waste polyvinyl chloride
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Researchers reviewed chemical and biological strategies for recycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste — including microbial degradation, thermolysis, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis — and found thermolysis to be the most practically scalable method, while noting that microbial approaches remain limited by the absence of efficient enzymes and metabolic pathways for PVC breakdown.
The widespread production and consumption of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) present significant ecological challenges, including chronic exposure to humans, microplastic releases, and climate changes. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of innovative strategies for PVC waste conversions through biotic degradation and chemical approaches (e.g. thermolysis, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis). We critically analyze the challenges and opportunities associated with each recycling/upcycling method of PVC, evaluating five representative techniques-microbial degradation, thermolysis, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis, based on their environmental impacts, economic viability, and industrial relevance. While microbial degradation shows promise for energy-efficient PVC degradation, it lacks effective metabolic pathways and high-efficiency enzymes. Thermolysis emerges as the most recommended method for PVC recycling/upcycling due to its ease of implementation, operational simplicity, and valuable products, and acceptance for large-scale applications. This review is expected to advance strategies for mitigating plastic wastes and fostering circular economies.
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Comprehensive Review on Bio-Based Treatments for Polyvinyl Chloride Plastic
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Researchers reviewed the state of biological treatment for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, cataloguing microorganisms, enzymes — including peroxidases and laccase — and metabolic pathways capable of attacking PVC polymers, while highlighting that bio-based approaches remain far less developed than those for PVC additives and plasticizers.
Recent advances in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) recycling
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"This review examines conventional and emerging recycling technologies for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), including mechanical, thermal, chemical, plasma-assisted, and solvent-based methods, with particular attention to the European regulatory context shaped by the Circular Economy Action Plan. Researchers identify persistent challenges such as low recycling yields and high energy consumption while highlighting the significant greenhouse gas savings and economic benefits that effective PVC recycling can deliver."
Microbial biodegradation of plastics: Challenges, opportunities, and a critical perspective
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Researchers reviewed microbial biodegradation of synthetic plastics, summarizing the bacterial and fungal species, enzymes, and biochemical pathways capable of breaking down common polymers and arguing that combining microbial approaches with physicochemical methods offers the most promising eco-friendly route to plastic waste remediation.
Microbial Degradation and Valorization of Plastic Wastes
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This review covers recent advances in microbial and enzymatic degradation of synthetic plastic wastes, summarizing the microorganisms and enzymes capable of attacking different polymer types and assessing the prospects for biological plastic waste treatment at scale.
Biodegradation of Petrochemical Plastics by Microorganisms: Toward Sustainable Solutions for Plastic Pollution
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This review comprehensively examined microbial biodegradation of major petrochemical plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and PVC by bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, highlighting key degrading strains, enzymatic mechanisms, and advances in protein engineering and synthetic biology for enhanced efficiency. While scaling biodegradation to environmental conditions remains challenging due to variable temperature, pH, microbial competition, and potentially toxic intermediates, the review argued that microbial approaches represent promising eco-friendly pathways toward a biobased circular economy for plastic waste.
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