Indirect Electrochemical Dehydrochlorination of Polyvinylchloride

The initiation of electrochemical reductive degradation (ECRD) of polyvinylchloride (PVC) by the active products of electrochemical reduction of dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetonitrile (MeCN) has been investigated. It was determined that ECRD leads to dehydro-chlorination of PVC and brings into appearance polyconjugated double bonds that are able to further chemical conversion. The kinetics of indirect electrochemical dehydrochlorination process depends on a phase state of the polymer. This process occurs immediately at the interaction of solute PVC with the DMF electrolysis products. The kinetics of dehydrochlorination of the solid-phase polymer in MeCN is determined by the penetration of the active particles into the polymer volume. The possibility to apply the process of the indirect electrochemical dehydrochlorination for both the PVC surface modification to impart the hydrophilicity and to increase the PVC membranes productivity was revealed.