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Beyond the Landfill: A critical review of techniques for End-of-Life Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) valorization
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PVC (the plastic used in pipes, medical devices, and cables) is hard to recycle because of its chemical makeup, and when it mixes with other plastics in waste streams, it can mess up the recycling process for everything else. This review pulls together existing research on ways to reuse or safely dispose of PVC waste, concluding that better collection and sorting systems, paired with the right recycling technology, are needed to keep it out of landfills and incinerators. Getting this right matters for reducing the toxic byproducts and plastic pollution that can end up in our environment, water, and eventually our bodies.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a polymer comprised of more than 50% chlorine that offers unmatched versatility at low expense. PVC is irreplaceable in several applications, such as construction materials, medical applications, and cables. This versatility and tunable properties come at the cost of complex formulations for the product and challenging end-of-life (EoL) options for PVC waste. Pure collected and sorted PVC is already recycled successfully to some extent, yet, when PVC ends up in a mixed plastic waste stream, it can be detrimental to the recycling process. PVC waste and its effects at various concentrations remain a focal point for both scholars and policymakers. In this review, the narrative begins at the naissance of PVC and continues to investigate the EoL valorization options when the products are inevitably discarded. Strategies for PVC waste recycling and the technical and legal challenges regarding each method are discussed, focusing on the European recycling market. An effective solution to handle EoL PVC requires a combination of policies and schemes for proper collection and sorting of specific waste streams and considering all available technologies to select the right tools. This review can support appropriate policies and the selection of suitable methods of recycling PVC waste.
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Recent Studies and Technologies in the Separation of Polyvinyl Chloride for Resources Recycling: A Systematic Review
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This systematic review summarizes research on technologies for separating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from other plastics for recycling. Better PVC recycling is important for reducing microplastic pollution because PVC is one of the most common and problematic plastics, and when it breaks down it can release harmful chemical additives into the environment and our bodies.
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."
Risks Associated with the Presence of Polyvinyl Chloride in the Environment and Methods for Its Disposal and Utilization
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This review examines the environmental and health risks of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), one of the most common plastics. As PVC breaks down into microplastics, it contaminates soil, water, and even drinking water, entering the food chain and exposing humans to harmful effects. The paper surveys methods being developed to clean up and remove PVC microplastics from the environment.
Revisiting poly(vinyl chloride) reactivity in the context of chemical recycling
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This review explores the many chemical reactions that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can undergo, viewed through the lens of chemical recycling potential. Researchers found that PVC's well-documented reactivity in modification chemistry could inspire new methods for converting PVC waste into useful products. The study suggests that building on existing knowledge of PVC chemistry may help overcome the major challenge of recycling one of the world's most widely used yet least recycled plastics.
Risks Associated with the Presence of PVC in the Environment and Methods of Its Elimination
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This review summarized the environmental risks posed by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, including the release of toxic additives and microplastic formation during degradation, and assessed current methods for its elimination from the environment.
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