We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of Copper(II) Oxide on the Co-Pyrolysis of Waste Polyester Enameled Wires and Poly(vinyl chloride)
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates how adding copper oxide during the pyrolysis of waste electrical wires reduces toxic chlorinated pollutants released during copper recovery.
The emission of chlorinated pollutants is one of the main problems when recovering copper (Cu) via pyrolysis from waste enameled wires. This is mainly attributed to other wastes which possess high poly(vinyl chloride) content, such as electrical wires and cables, which are often recycled together with enameled copper wires. In this research, to control the chlorinated pollutants, copper(II) oxide (CuO) was chosen and demonstrated to be an efficient dechlorinating agent, and CuO did not introduce any impurities that influence the quality of the recovered Cu. The pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis of polyester enameled wires, PVC, and CuO were investigated, and special attention was paid to chlorinated compounds in released pyrolytic products. In particular, the co-pyrolysis of this ternary mixture was studied for the first time, and some new pyrolysis behaviors were discovered. For example, the results of Py-GC/MS analyses showed that the addition of CuO removed about 75% of the chloro-organic products, the main types of which were chloroaromatic compounds rather than the more toxic chloroesters. Moreover, pyrolysis gases were collected and characterized via ion chromatography, and the results showed that the chlorine content in the pyrolysis gases decreased by about 71%. TG analysis indicated that CuO only minimally affected the pyrolysis of polyester paint. However, through the chlorine fixation effect, CuO influenced the dechlorination and dehydrochlorination of PVC, as well as secondary reactions between HCl and pyrolysis products of polyester paint, therefore changing the products and behaviors of co-pyrolysis. Mechanism of reducing chlorine-containing pollutants and reaction mechanism of forming typical pyrolysis products closely correlated to the effects of CuO were also proposed, providing theoretical guidance for the recycling of waste enameled wires.
More Papers Like This
Thermal Destruction of Waste and the Impact of the Presence of Cl and S in Waste on the Emissions of Cu, Ni, and Pb and Their Immobilisation in the Ash Residue
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper is not about microplastics — it investigates how chlorine and sulfur content in waste materials affects heavy metal (copper, nickel, lead) emissions during high-temperature incineration of plastic, pharmaceutical, and pesticide waste, and tests chemical additives for immobilizing these metals in ash residue.
Study on Copper Desorption Behavior from Microplastic Particles in Different Media
AI summary Read the abstract
"Researchers studied how copper (Cu(II)) desorbs from polystyrene microplastics in three different media—pure water, artificial seawater, and simulated gastric fluid—finding that desorption was fastest in gastric fluid, meaning microplastics release more heavy metal contamination once ingested. This reveals that microplastics acting as Trojan horse carriers for heavy metals pose a heightened risk inside the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, including humans."
Microplastic degradation and organic acids recovery via homogeneous catalytic wet air oxidation: Role of redox and Lewis acidity of metal ions
AI summary Read the abstract
In lab tests, a copper-based chemical treatment broke down polyethylene microplastics in water heated to 170°C, causing over 98% weight loss and converting more than half the plastic's carbon into carboxylic acids, chemicals that can be reused. The method also worked on other plastic types and real plastic waste samples.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.