Role of Coexisting Substances in the Hydrothermal Dechlorination of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Efficient dechlorination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste is essential for sustainable material recycling.This study investigated hydrothermal dechlorination by evaluating the effects of coexisting substances, including base catalysts, salts, metal ions from vessels or impurities, resin additives, and organic solvents.Dechlorination efficiency was compared across different conditions, and mechanistic insights were obtained from analyses of product states and molecular structures.Results demonstrated that individual substances strongly influence reactions, and their combined presence can alter both the behavior and efficiency of reactions.Notably, solvents exhibited synergistic or antagonistic interactions depending on the accompanying base catalyst.These findings highlight the importance of holistic reaction environment design, where the interplay between all coexisting substances must be considered to achieve effective and environmentally sustainable PVC dechlorination.