Thermochemical reaction mechanism of lead oxide with poly(vinyl chloride) in waste thermal treatment

•The thermochemical reaction mechanism of PVC with PbO was investigated.•HCl decomposed from PVC reacted with PbO via an exothermal gas–solid reaction.•Chlorination effect of PVC on Pb was apt to lower-temperature and rapid.•The product PbCl2 melted, volatilized and transferred into flue gas at >501°C. Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as a widely used plastic that can promote the volatilization of heavy metals during the thermal treatment of solid waste, thus leading to environmental problems of heavy metal contamination. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with differential scanning calorimeter, TGA coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and lab-scale tube furnace experiments were carried out with standard PVC and PbO to explicate the thermochemical reaction mechanism of PVC with semi-volatile lead. The results showed that PVC lost weight from 225 to 230°C under both air and nitrogen with an endothermic peak, and HCl and benzene release were also detected. When PbO was present, HCl that decomposed from PVC instantly reacted with PbO via an exothermal gas–solid reaction. The product was solid-state PbCl2 at 501°C, PbCl2 melted, volatilized and transferred into flue gas or condensed into fly ash. Almost all PbCl2 volatilized above 900°C, while PbO just started to volatilize slowly at this temperature. Therefore, the chlorination effect of PVC on lead was apt to lower-temperature and rapid. Without oxygen, Pb2O was generated due to the deoxidizing by carbon, with oxygen, the amount of residual Pb in the bottom ash was significantly decreased.