Enhancing Rate and Selectivity for Hydrodechlorination of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) with Rh Catalysts.

Hydrodechlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) directly to polyethylene (PE) represents a way to repurpose PVC waste, while avoiding toxic and/or corrosive byproducts that are produced at the end of life of PVC items. Prior studies identified a rhodium-catalyzed route to hydrodechlorinate PVC to form PE products with sodium formate as a hydrogen source. While all chlorine could be removed to form PE-like polymers, the reaction was slow and side reactions introduced undesirable cross-links in the polymer product.