Coordination-Engineered Fe Single Atoms Enable Synergistic PVC Upcycling into Fuel-Range Hydrocarbons via Fenton-Like Pathway.

Authors

Qingyun Bai, Jiuyi Wang, Xing Xu, Xuning Li, Xie Quan, Yanbiao Liu

Published in

Environmental science & technology. Jul 02, 2026. Epub Jul 02, 2026.

Abstract

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) poses a persistent environmental challenge due to its high chlorine content and additive-mediated recalcitrance. Herein, we report an N,O-dual-coordinated iron single-atom catalyst (Fe-N₂O₂-hCN) integrated with palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) for efficient hydrothermal Fenton-like upcycling of PVC into fuel-range hydrocarbons. The asymmetric Fe-N₂O₂ configuration modulates the electronic structure of Fe centers, promoting H₂O₂ activation and hydroxyl radical generation for efficient C-Cl and C-C bond cleavage under mild conditions, outperforming the conventional Fe-N₄ catalyst. The bifunctional Pd NPs/Fe-N₂O₂-hCN system achieves high PVC degradation efficiency (97.38%) and near-complete dechlorination, while selectively hydrogenating depolymerized intermediates into fuel-range alkanes (C₃-C₂₀) with a high selectivity (86.01%). Mechanistic studies reveal enhanced electron transfer and a lowered energy barrier for H₂O₂ dissociation, with Pd NPs generating reactive hydrogen species for olefin saturation. Life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates a 77% reduction in carbon emissions and significantly lower eco-costs than incineration. This work provides a coordination-engineered platform for converting hazardous plastic waste into valuable fuels, advancing a circular plastic economy.

PMID:
42390813
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Jul 2026.

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