Recycling PVC with electrolysis

Despite being used extensively, poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) is rarely recycled. However, scientists have designed a process that uses electrolysis to recover chlorine from waste PVC and to insert the chlorine into aromatic compounds. This process turns waste PVC into valuable compounds for chlorine chemistry used in around 85% of pharmaceutical syntheses. Find out more and download the story and summary slide with questions for ages 14–16. Use these when teaching students polymers, recycling and life cycle assessment.