Dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) by microwave irradiation

Dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by a commercial microwave oven has been studied. The results of decomposition and/or dehydrochlorination by microwave irradiation on PVC polymer and PVC resin wastes are summarized as follows: (1) the assist of microwave absorbent, such as activated carbon or ferrite, on decomposition and/or dehydrochlorination of PVC are effective, (2) the decomposition and/or dehydrochlorination yield is proportional to the irradiated microwave energy, (3) decomposition of PVC is mainly accounted for dehydrochlorination and during microwave irradiation, about 15% of volatilized organic materials are released from polymer, (4) on the commercial PVC resin wastes, more than 90% of dehydrochlorination yield are obtained by microwave irradiation.