Study on non-mercury catalysts for the clean production of vinylchloride monomers

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the third most used plastic, and China is ranked first worldwide in its production. Like all polymers, this plastic is made from a reaction that binds monomers together into a chain called polymerization. Like the name suggests, the monomer for polyvinyl chloride is vinyl chloride. The main method of vinyl chloride production in China involves a catalyst that contains mercury. Although a catalyst is necessary for the reaction to be cost effective, this mercury catalyst is very toxic and it sublimes easily causing serious environment pollution problems. This study hopes to look into alternative catalysts that do not contain mercury, but will keep the production of vinyl chloride cost effective. The types of alternative catalysts being considered are those such as heterogeneous and homogeneous non-mercury catalysts.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jesse Zhu

Student:

Partner:

Zhejiang University of Technology

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

Western University

Program: