All articles tagged with #pvc
Virginia Tech researchers developed a method to convert hard-to-recycle PVC into polyalphaolefin, a key lubricant ingredient, by treating PVC in solvent with aluminum trichloride and alpha olefins and heating to 158°F for three hours, offering a sustainable path to turn plastic waste into high-performance lubricants and reduce environmental impact.
Brussels is weighing broad trade protections to curb a flood of cheap Chinese chemicals that is forcing plant closures and job losses across Europe; the Commission is considering sectoral quotas, tariffs, or an overcapacity instrument, but investigations are slow and industry fear time is running out as China’s imports rise and EU capacity falls amid high energy costs and carbon prices.
Researchers in Brazil and the UK found moringa seed extracts act as a natural coagulant that removed about 98.5% of PVC microplastics from tap water in filtration tests, performing similarly to or better than alum and offering renewable, biodegradable advantages. Yet each seed treats only about 10 liters, raising scalability questions for large plants and leaving open questions about residues and effectiveness on other plastics or nanoplastics, necessitating further study especially for small communities.
A Brazilian study finds a salt-based extract from moringa seeds removes over 98% of PVC microplastics from drinking water, matching or outperforming aluminum sulfate (alum) and potentially simplifying treatment by enabling inline filtration. The moringa option offers greener benefits and lower sludge but raises questions about dissolved organic carbon leaching and requires scaling tests before widespread use.