Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: PVC is the second most important polymer worldwide. Thanks to its excellent cost/performance ratio and outstanding chemical and environmental resistance, it is today mainly used for long-life applications. In some countries, for example, France, PVC is used in large volume for the manufacture of bottles. Pure PVC scrap can be recycled without any problems. Although many applications for such products of recycled PVC have been developed, and pilot plants for recycling exist, only small volumes have been recycled up to now. Only bottles made from PVC for the large drinking water market in France are already collected separately, recycled in large quantities, and transformed into such articles as water pipes. Specialist organisations deal with this business. In such cases, for example, kitchen waste, where PVC is part of mixed plastics waste for example, sorting and separation of the PVC is necessary.