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)
Summary
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.
Sign in to start a discussion.
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
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.
Sustainable Optimization of Biotechnology for Cu Recovery from Printed Circuit Boards
Sustainable biotechnology was developed for recovering copper from contaminated sources, including plastic-associated metal pollution. Biologically driven metal recovery reduces the need for energy-intensive chemical processes and could be applied to treat microplastic-metal co-contaminated waste streams.
Recycling of Electrical Cables—Current Challenges and Future Prospects
This is not a microplastics study; it reviews current methods for recycling electrical cables, noting that while metal recovery is well-developed, the polymer insulation often ends up in landfill and better recycling solutions are needed to meet tightening environmental regulations.
Is the presence of Cu(II) and p-benzoquinone a challenge for the removal of microplastics from landfill leachate?
Researchers found that copper ions and p-benzoquinone present in landfill leachate altered the surface hydrophilicity of microplastics, making them harder to remove by conventional flotation-based methods. The chemical complexity of landfill leachate presents a significant challenge for efficient microplastic removal from this concentrated pollution source.
Microplastics as emerging contaminants in textile dyeing sludge: Their impacts on co-combustion/pyrolysis products, residual metals, and temperature dependency of emissions
Researchers studied how microplastics in textile dyeing sludge affect the pollutants released when the sludge is burned or heated for disposal. The presence of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics increased the release of harmful gases and changed how toxic metals behaved during combustion. This means that microplastic-contaminated industrial waste can generate additional air pollution when disposed of through burning, adding to the pollutants people breathe.