A thermo-kinetic investigation on the thermal degradation of polyvinyl chloride in the presence of magnetite and hematite

Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) which is accumulated in large amounts world-wide contains hematite (Fe2O3) and significant quantities of magnetite (Fe3O4). Waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) also poses a great environmental threat aside to EAFD. Both these wastes have shown potential for their co-thermal treatment metal extraction, thus minimising footprint. Herein, an investigation on the thermal degradation behaviour, reaction products, thermodynamics decomposition kinetics PVC its stoichiometric mixtures with Fe3O4 Fe2O3 was conducted using non-isothermal thermogravimetric scans. The kinetic data suggests increase average activation energy de-hydrochlorination from 122.6 ± 24.2 kJ/mol (pure PVC) 177.0 28.0 199.0 77.0 when were mixed PVC. inhibiting effect both might be assigned capturing emitted gaseous HCl known catalytic effect. This result that EAFDs containing (in amounts) can resulting longer processing times or requirement higher temperatures achieving reasonable rates.