Verification of PVC dechlorination process based on 1,000 t/y semi-commercial plant operation

A dechlorination process to utilize poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in ironmakin g has been developed in a 1,000 t/y semi-commercial facility with a newly d esigned indirect heating rotary kiln. In this process, coarse coke was supp lied to prevent agglomeration of PVC particles and adhesion to the inner wa ll of the kiln during PVC dechlorination. A dechlorination efficiency of ov er 95% was attained at a processing temperature of 325 degreesC and a reten tion time of 30 min. In addition to HCl, C-1-C-4 hydrocarbons, benzene and tar were generated by PVC pyrolysis. The content of these by-products was l ess then 3% under the conditions of 95% dechlorination efficiency, although it increased slightly with an increase in processing temperature and reten tion time of PVC. The supply of coarse coke with PVC was also fund to be ef fective in promoting heat transfer to the PVC layer in the kiln. The result s obtained in the 1,000 t/y semi-commercial plants, it was verified that th is dechlorination process could be smoothly operated due to the coke partic les. It can be concluded that this process contributes to the favorable rec ycling of waste PVC.