Revisiting poly(vinyl chloride) reactivity in the context of chemical recycling
Abstract
Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the highest production volume polymers due to its many applications, and it is one of the least recycled due to its chemical structure and frequent formulation with additives. Developing efficient PVC recycling techniques would enable PVC waste to be reused or repurposed in other processes. Within this context, the literature on PVC modification offers considerable insight into versatile reaction pathways, potentially inspiring new approaches for repurposing PVC waste into value-added products. This perspective provides an overview of PVC functionalization through a lens of chemical recycling, discussing various PVC reactivity trends and their applications with a critical assessment and future outlook of their recycling implications.
- This article is part of the themed collections: 2024 Chemical Science HOT Article Collection, 2024 ChemSci Pick of the Week Collection and 2024 Chemical Science Perspective & Review Collection