Co-upcycling of polyvinyl chloride/cotton mixed waste into 5-isopropoxymethylfurfural

Abstract

The co-recycle of waste plastics, biomass waste and waste textiles represent a sustainable strategy for the efficient utilization of waste resources. This study develops a co-depolymerization process for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and cotton fibers. Utilizing in-situ HCl generated from PVC pyrolysis as a catalyst, the cotton fibers were efficiently converted into 5-isopropoxymethylfurfural (IPMF) and other 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) derivatives (with a total yield of 46.1%). The study demonstrates that the HCl released from PVC catalyzes both the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose and the subsequent dehydration of fructose to HMF. The Lewis acid sites on the surface of the dechlorinated PVC residue (DHPVC) promote the isomerization reaction between glucose and fructose. Additionally, the solvent isopropanol also serves as a reactant reacting with HMF into IPMF which is thermally more stable. As a vital precursor for FDCA, IPMF is a higher value bio-based chemical. This work provides a novel approach for the synergistic recycling of waste polymer and develop a new pathway for the green synthesis of HMF and its derivatives.