Eco-profiles of the

European Plastics Industry

POLYVINYLCHLORIDE (PVC)
(SUSPENSION POLYMERISATION)

A report by
I Boustead
for
The European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers
(ECVM) & PlasticsEurope

Data last calculated

March 2005

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IMPORTANT NOTE
Before using the data contained in this report, you are strongly
recommended to look at the following documents:
1. Methodology
This provides information about the analysis technique used
and gives advice on the meaning of the results.

2. Data sources
This gives information about the number of plants examined,
the date when the data were collected and information about
up-stream operations.

In addition, you can also download data sets for most of the
upstream operations used in this report. All of these documents
can be found at: www.plasticseurope.org.

ECVM & PlasticsEurope may be contacted at

Ave E van Nieuwenhuyse 4
Box 3
B-1160 Brussels
Telephone: 32-2-672-8259
Fax: 32-2-675-3935

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CONTENTS
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE ..........................................................................................................4
STRUCTURE OF PVC.................................................................................................................4
PRODUCTION METHODS ........................................................................................................5
SUSPENSION POLYMERISATION ....................................................................................................5
EMULSION POLYMERISATION .......................................................................................................5
BULK OR MASS POLYMERISATION ................................................................................................6
USES OF PVC................................................................................................................................6
SUSPENSION POLYMERISATION .........................................................................................7
ECOPROFILE OF SUSPENSION PVC ....................................................................................7

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POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
Of all synthetic thermoplastics, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is probably one of the
polymers in modern use with the oldest pedigree. Regnault in France first
produced vinyl chloride monomer in 1835 and Baumann first recorded its
polymerisation in 1872 after exposing sealed tubes containing the monomer to
sunlight. The earliest patents for PVC production were taken out in the USA in
1912 and pilot plants producing PVC began in Germany and the USA in the
early 1930s.
Early PVC processing technology was based on established rubber moulding
processes and the products that could be manufactured were limited to those
using heavily plasticised polymer. The main problem was the inability to
convert the polymer into usable products without severe thermal degradation
because of the tendency of the polymer to de-hydrochlorinate at elevated
temperatures. It was not until the discovery of suitable stabilisers that
processing technology advanced to the point where the full potential of the
polymer could be realised. Nowadays, by choosing suitable stabilisers and
plasticisers, the polymer can be converted into a wide variety of different
products as diverse as plastisols, which provide the seals in some closures,
through coated fabrics used in architectural applications, films and sheets for
use in packaging applications and extruded pipes and sections for use in
building applications.

STRUCTURE OF PVC
PVC is a chlorinated hydrocarbon polymer. The structure is similar to that of
polyethylene except that alternate carbon atoms in the main chain have one of
their hydrogen atoms replaced by a chlorine atom to give the structure shown in
Figure 1.
H

Cl H

Cl H

Cl H

Cl H

Cl H

Cl

Figure 1. Structure of polyvinyl chloride

The polymer is produced from vinyl chloride by a process essentially similar to
that used in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene; that
is, the double bond in the vinyl chloride molecule is opened and neighbouring
molecules combine with each other to produce a long chain molecule.
Schematically the reaction is as shown in Figure 2.

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Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

vinyl chloride

PVC

Figure 2. Schematic representation of the polymerisation of vinyl chloride.

PRODUCTION METHODS
There are three commercial processes for the production of PVC:
1. Suspension polymerisation
2. Emulsion polymerisation
3. Bulk or mass polymerisation.

Suspension polymerisation
Liquid vinyl chloride is insoluble in water and disperses to fine droplets when
mechanically agitated. The droplets remain in suspension as long as the
agitation continues. Polymerisation is carried out in pressurised vessels under
the influence of heat and initiators and/or catalysts, which are soluble in the
water. A typical initiator is an organic peroxide.
The reaction is exothermic and the heat evolved is carried to the sides of the
reaction vessel by the water. Suspension agents known as protective colloids
are added to the reactor to prevent the monomer droplets coalescing and the
polymer particles from agglomerating.
When the desired conversion is reached, the batch is transferred to a blow
down vessel. Several batches may be transferred to this vessel for blending.
Unreacted monomer is recovered and recycled back to the polymerisation
reactor. The polymer particles are dried.

Emulsion polymerisation
In this process, surfactants (soaps) are used to disperse the vinyl chloride
monomer in water. The monomer is trapped inside soap micelles are protected
by the soap and polymerisation takes place using water soluble initiators.

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The process can be either continuous or batch but both lead to a polymer latex
which is a very fine suspension of polymer particles (~ 0.1m diameter) in
water. Excess monomer is recovered and recycled and the polymer particles are
dried.

Bulk or mass polymerisation

Unlike suspension or emulsion polymerisation, bulk polymerisation is carried
out in the complete absence of water, protective colloids or emulsifying agents.
This process relies on the fact that the polymer is insoluble in the monomer and
precipitates out to form grains that have no tendency to agglomerate. The main
problem is the difficulty in heat removal and this problem is solved by carrying
out the polymerisation in two stages.
In the first stage, vinyl chloride monomer is mechanically agitated ion a vertical
autoclave with the appropriate initiators until a conversion of 7 10% is
achieved. This first pre-polymerisation step determines the number of particles
that will be formed. Heat is removed by continuously condensing the VCM
vapour above the liquid reaction mixture.
The pre-polymer is then transferred to a horizontal autoclave equipped with a
slow paddle. Here, the particles already formed grow by the formation of
further polymer. The process is stopped when 70 90% of the monomer has
been converted.

Uses of PVC
Suspension PVC is the general purpose grade and is used for most rigid PVC
applications such as pipes, profiles, other building materials and hard foils. It is
also plasticised and used for most flexible applications such as cable insulation,
soft foils and medical products.
Emulsion PVC is primarily used for coating applications such as PVC coated
fabrics.
Bulk PVC is used for specific types of hard sheets and bottles.
Suspension PVC accounts for more than 80% of the PVC market. The market
share for emulsion PVC is approximately 10% and for bulk PVC, 5%.
Emissions of vinyl chloride monomer and ethylene dichloride are controlled by
law in several European countries. These particular emissions are dealt with in
the publications On the environmental impact of the manufacture of polyvinyl

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chloride (PVC) and ECVM Industry Charter for the Production of VCM and
PVC.1

SUSPENSION POLYMERISATION
The report is concerned with suspension polymerisation and typical average
process inputs are shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Average process requirements for
production of 1 kg of suspension PVC.
Input
Vinyl chloride monomer
Other chemicals
Nitrogen
Compressed air
Process water
Cooling water
Electricity
Thermal fuels
Steam

Quantity
1.008
0.001
0.001
0.127
3.289
13.992
0.853
0.732
0.969

the

kg
kg
kg
cu m
kg
kg
MJ
MJ
kg

ECOPROFILE OF SUSPENSION PVC

Table 2 shows the gross or cumulative energy to produce 1 kg of suspension
PVC and Table 3 gives this same data expressed in terms of primary fuels.
Table 4 shows the energy data expressed as masses of fuels. Table 5 shows the
raw materials requirements and Table 6 shows the demand for water. Table 7
shows the gross air emissions and Table 8 shows the corresponding carbon
dioxide equivalents of these air emissions. Table 9 shows the emissions to
water. Table 10 shows the solid waste generated and Table 11 gives the solid
waste in EU format.
Table 2
Gross energy required to produce 1 kg of suspension PVC. (Totals may not
agree because of rounding)
Fuel type

Electricity

Fuel prod'n

Energy content

Energy use

Feedstock

Total

& delivery

of delivered

in

energy

energy

energy

fuel

transport

(MJ)

(MJ)

(MJ)

(MJ)

(MJ)

10.34

4.73

0.58

15.65

Oil fuels

0.32

5.93

0.12

14.09

20.46

Other fuels

0.65

13.83

0.06

9.69

24.23

11.31

24.50

0.75

23.78

60.34

Totals

Both of these publications are available from ECVM, Ave E Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, Box 4, B1160 Brussels, Belgium.

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Table 3
Gross primary fuels required to produce 1 kg of suspension PVC. (Totals may
not agree because of rounding)
Fuel type

Fuel prod'n

Energy content

Fuel use

Feedstock

Total

& delivery

of delivered

in

energy

energy

energy

fuel

transport

(MJ)

(MJ)

(MJ)

(MJ)

(MJ)

Coal

2.68

3.24

0.17

0.24

6.33

Oil

1.02

6.30

0.29

14.09

21.70

Gas

2.81

12.88

0.16

9.44

25.28

Hydro

0.47

0.34

<0.01

0.81

Nuclear

4.04

1.88

0.12

6.04

Lignite

0.01

<0.01

<0.01

0.01

Wood

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

0.02

0.02

Sulphur

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01
0.06

Biomass (solid)

0.04

0.02

<0.01

<0.01

Hydrogen

<0.01

0.53

<0.01

0.53

Recovered energy

<0.01

-0.82

<0.01

-0.82

Unspecified

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Peat

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Geothermal

0.03

0.02

<0.01

0.05

Solar

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Wave/tidal

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

<0.01

Biomass (liquid/gas)

0.04

0.01

0.01

0.07

Industrial waste

0.05

0.03

<0.01

0.07

Municipal Waste

0.10

0.05

<0.01

0.14

Wind

0.02

0.01

<0.01

0.03

Totals

11.31

24.50

0.75

23.78

60.34

Table 4
Gross primary fuels used to
produce 1 kg of suspension PVC
expressed as mass.
Fuel type

Input in mg

Crude oil

480000

Gas/condensate

490000

Coal

220000

Metallurgical coal
Lignite

82
590

Peat

270

Wood

2200

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Table 5
Gross raw materials required to produce 1
kg of suspension PVC.
Raw material
Air
Animal matter
Barytes
Bauxite
Bentonite
Biomass (including water)
Calcium sulphate (CaSO4)
Chalk (CaCO3)
Clay
Cr
Cu
Dolomite
Fe
Feldspar
Ferromanganese
Fluorspar
Granite
Gravel
Hg
Limestone (CaCO3)
Mg
N2
Ni
O2
Olivine
Pb
Phosphate as P2O5
Potassium chloride (KCl)
Quartz (SiO2)
Rutile
S (bonded)
S (elemental)
Sand (SiO2)
Shale
Sodium chloride (NaCl)
Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
Talc
Unspecified
Zn

Input in mg
430000
<1
210
4
25
15000
3
<1
2
<1
96
2
200
<1
<1
2
<1
1
3
25000
<1
76000
<1
78000
2
1
2
1000
<1
<1
<1
-420
560
7
1000000
<1
<1
<1
<1

Table 6
Gross water consumption required for the production of 1 kg
of suspension PVC. (Totals may not agree because of
rounding)
Source

Public supply
River canal
Sea
Well
Unspecified
Totals

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Use for
processing
(mg)
2300000
830000
190000
630000
5300000
9200000

Use for
cooling
(mg)
35000000
5600000
220000
15000000
56000000

Totals
(mg)
2300000
36000000
5800000
840000
20000000
65000000

Table 7
Gross air emissions associated with the production of 1 kg of suspension PVC.
(Totals may not agree because of rounding)
Emission

dust (PM10)
CO
CO2
SOX as SO2
H2S
mercaptan
NOX as NO2
NH3
Cl2
HCl
F2
HF
hydrocarbons not specified
aldehyde (-CHO)
organics
Pb+compounds as Pb
Hg+compounds as Hg
metals not specified elsewhere
H2SO4
N2O
H2
dichloroethane (DCE) C2H4Cl2
vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)
CFC/HCFC/HFC not specified
organo-chlorine not specified
HCN
CH4
aromatic HC not specified
polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH)
NMVOC
CS2
methylene chloride CH2Cl2
Cu+compounds as Cu
As+compounds as As
Cd+compounds as Cd
Ag+compounds as Ag
Zn+compounds as Zn
Cr+compounds as Cr
Se+compounds as Se
Ni+compounds as Ni
Sb+compounds as Sb
ethylene C2H4
oxygen
asbestos
dioxin/furan as Teq
benzene C6H6
toluene C7H8
xylenes C8H10
ethylbenzene C8H10
styrene
propylene

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From
fuel prod'n
(mg)
560
1500
720000
4100
<1
<1
2100
<1
<1
74
<1
3
900
<1
<1
<1
<1
1
<1
<1
65
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
21000
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-

From
fuel use
(mg)
190
820
1300000
3100
<1
2400
<1
21
<1
1
200
<1
<1
1
<1
12
410
<1
<1
<1
<1
-

10

From
transport
(mg)
5
47
12000
150
<1
<1
88
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
26
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-

From
process
(mg)
460
220
97000
320
<1
<1
210
12
120
57
<1
<1
640
<1
68
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
4300
44
70
15
10
<1
1700
19
<1
39
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
14
1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
1

From
biomass
(mg)
-2000
-

From
fugitive
(mg)
<1
4
8
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-

Totals
(mg)
1200
2600
2100000
7600
<1
<1
4800
12
120
150
<1
4
1800
<1
68
<1
<1
3
<1
<1
4400
48
78
15
10
<1
23000
19
<1
39
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
14
1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
1

Table 8
Carbon dioxide equivalents corresponding to the gross air emissions for the
production of 1 kg of suspension PVC. (Totals may not agree because of
rounding)
Type

From

From

From

From

From

From

fuel prod'n

fuel use

transport

process

biomass

fugitive

Totals

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

20 year equiv

2000000

1300000

12000

200000

-2000

<1

3600000

100 year equiv

1200000

1300000

12000

140000

-2000

<1

2700000

500 year equiv

880000

1300000

12000

110000

-2000

<1

2300000

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11

Table 9
Gross emissions to water arising from the production of 1 kg of suspension
PVC. (Totals may not agree because of rounding).
Emission

COD
BOD
Pb+compounds as Pb
Fe+compounds as Fe
Na+compounds as Na
acid as H+
NO3Hg+compounds as Hg
metals not specified elsewhere
ammonium compounds as NH4+
ClCNFS+sulphides as S
dissolved organics (nonsuspended solids
detergent/oil
hydrocarbons not specified
organo-chlorine not specified
dissolved chlorine
phenols
dissolved solids not specified
P+compounds as P
other nitrogen as N
other organics not specified
SO4-dichloroethane (DCE)
vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)
K+compounds as K
Ca+compounds as Ca
Mg+compounds as Mg
Cr+compounds as Cr
ClO3-BrO3-TOC
AOX
Al+compounds as Al
Zn+compounds as Zn
Cu+compounds as Cu
Ni+compounds as Ni
CO3-As+compounds as As
Cd+compounds as Cd
Mn+compounds as Mn
organo-tin as Sn
Sr+compounds as Sr
organo-silicon
benzene
dioxin/furan as Teq

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From
From
fuel prod'n fuel use
(mg)
(mg)
3
<1
<1
<1
<1
4
<1
<1
1
3
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
58
<1
3
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-

12

From
transport
(mg)
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
5
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1

From
process
(mg)
13000
130
<1
<1
27000
10
6
<1
39
14
46000
<1
<1
<1
19
6400
8
<1
1
3
1
20000
32
13
160
3300
2
10
33
350
1
<1
240
<1
11
1
<1
<1
2
1
770
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1

Totals
(mg)
13000
130
<1
<1
27000
14
6
<1
40
17
46000
<1
<1
<1
19
6400
8
3
1
3
1
20000
32
14
160
3300
2
10
33
350
1
<1
240
<1
11
1
<1
<1
2
1
770
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1

Table 10
Gross solid waste associated with the production of 1 kg of suspension PVC.
(Totals may not agree because of rounding)
Emission

From

From

From

From

fuel prod'n

fuel use

transport

process

Totals

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

(mg)

Plastic containers

<1

<1

<1

<1

Paper

<1

<1

<1

<1

Plastics

<1

<1

630

630

Metals

<1

<1

<1

<1

Putrescibles

<1

<1

<1

<1

1100

<1

<1

1100

Unspecified refuse
Mineral waste

190

54

7700

8000

Slags & ash

16000

2100

21

4300

22000

Mixed industrial

-2600

1600

-1000

Regulated chemicals

1400

<1

1900

3300

Unregulated chemicals

1000

<1

3200

4200

Construction waste

<1

<1

90

90

Waste to incinerator

<1

<1

4100

4100

Inert chemical

72

<1

4800

4900

Wood waste

<1

<1

43

43

Wooden pallets

<1

<1

<1

<1

Waste to recycling

<1

<1

650

650

43000

7800

51000

3800

3800

-13000

<1

-13000

Waste returned to mine

Tailings
Municipal solid waste

Note: Negative values correspond to consumption of waste e.g. recycling or use in electricity
generation.

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13

Table 11
Gross solid waste in EU format associated with the
production of 1 kg of suspension PVC. Entries marked
with an asterisk (*) are considered hazardous as defined
by EU Directive 91/689/EEC
Emission

Totals
(mg)
640
45000
4
3
170
55
<1
5200
2
1300
1000
1100
43
2
97
120
82
6
14
<1
<1
<1
<1
3200
140
480
56
780
400
<1
-1
170
<1
12
190
640
<1
<1
<1
<1
1700
5
11
<1
400
<1
3000
430
<1

010101 metallic min'l excav'n waste

010102 non-metal min'l excav'n waste
010306 non 010304/010305 tailings
010308 non-010307 powdery wastes
010399 unspecified met. min'l wastes
010408 non-010407 gravel/crushed rock
010410 non-010407 powdery wastes
010411 non-010407 potash/rock salt
010499 unsp'd non-met. waste
010505*oil-bearing drilling mud/waste
010508 non-010504/010505 chloride mud
010599 unspecified drilling mud/waste
020107 wastes from forestry
050106*oil ind. oily maint'e sludges
050107*oil industry acid tars
050199 unspecified oil industry waste
050699 coal pyrolysis unsp'd waste
060101*H2SO4/H2SO3 MFSU waste
060102*HCl MFSU waste
060106*other acidic MFSU waste
060199 unsp'd acid MFSU waste
060204*NaOH/KOH MFSU waste
060299 unsp'd base MFSU waste
060313*h. metal salt/sol'n MFSU waste
060314 other salt/sol'n MFSU waste
060399 unsp'd salt/sol'n MFSU waste
060404*Hg MSFU waste
060405*other h. metal MFSU waste
060499 unsp'd metallic MFSU waste
060602*dangerous sulphide MFSU waste
060603 non-060602 sulphide MFSU waste
060701*halogen electrol. asbestos waste
060702*Cl pr. activated C waste
060703*BaSO4 sludge with Hg
060704*halogen pr. acids and sol'ns
060799 unsp'd halogen pr. waste
061002*N ind. dangerous sub. waste
061099 unsp'd N industry waste
070101*organic chem. aqueous washes
070103*org. halogenated solv'ts/washes
070107*hal'd still bottoms/residues
070108*other still bottoms/residues
070111*org. chem. dan. eff. sludge
070112 non-070111 effluent sludge
070199 unsp'd organic chem. waste
070204*polymer ind. other washes
070207*polymer ind. hal'd still waste
070208*polymer ind. other still waste
070209*polymer ind. hal'd fil. cakes

continued over ..

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14

Table 11 - continued
Gross solid waste in EU format associated with the
production of 1 kg of suspension PVC. Entries marked
with an asterisk (*) are considered hazardous as defined
by EU Directive 91/689/EEC
070213 polymer ind. waste plastic
510
070214*polymer ind. dan. additives
170
070216 polymer ind. silicone wastes
<1
070299 unsp'd polymer ind. waste
1400
080199 unspecified paint/varnish waste
<1
100101 non-100104 ash, slag & dust
18000
100102 coal fly ash
280
100104*oil fly ash and boiler dust
1
100105 FGD Ca-based reac. solid waste
72
100113*emulsified hyrdocarbon fly ash
<1
100114*dangerous co-incin'n ash/slag
820
100115 non-100115 co-incin'n ash/slag
250
100116*dangerous co-incin'n fly ash
28
100199 unsp'd themal process waste
220
100202 unprocessed iron/steel slag
59
100210 iron/steel mill scales
4
100399 unspecified aluminium waste
<1
100501 primary/secondary zinc slags
<1
100504 zinc pr. other dust
<1
100511 non-100511 Zn pr. skimmings
<1
101304 lime calcin'n/hydration waste
4
110199 unspecified surf. t waste
<1
130208*other engine/gear/lub. oil
<1
150101 paper and cardboard packaging
<1
150102 plastic packaging
<1
150103 wooden packaging
<1
150106 mixed packaging
<1
170107 non-170106 con'e/brick/tile mix
<1
170904 non-170901/2/3 con./dem'n waste
<1
190199 unspecified incin'n/pyro waste
<1
190905 sat./spent ion exchange resins
4800
200101 paper and cardboard
<1
200108 biodeg. kitchen/canteen waste
<1
200138 non-200137 wood
<1
200139 plastics
410
200140 metals
<1
200199 other separately coll. frac'ns
-3700
200301 mixed municipal waste
1
200399 unspecified municipal wastes
-12000
Note: Negative values correspond to consumption of waste e.g. recycling or use
in electricity generation.

spvc

15