Simulated marine weathering of PVC: Surface transformations and microbial interactions.

Rapid and reliable identification of microplastics in complex biological matrices remains challenging due to limited throughput or insufficient chemical specificity of existing techniques. Here, we demonstrate a high-speed and high-throughput mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging approach based on sub-cycle mid-infrared pulses. The system enables acquisition of centimeter-scale hyperspectral images covering the infrared fingerprint region with a spectral resolution of approximately 3cm-1 within seconds. Microplastic particles composed of five common polymers-polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate-were accurately identified and spatially mapped. The method was further validated in mouse embryo tissue sections, where micrometer-scale microplastics were reliably distinguished against highly complex and spatially heterogeneous infrared backgrounds. This approach combines the intrinsic chemical specificity of infrared absorption spectroscopy with large field-of-view, high-throughput, and rapid imaging, enabling efficient in situ microplastic analysis in complex biological environments.

Shellfish and elasmobranch as sentinel vector for microplastic contamination: Species and tissue-specific variability, ATR-FTIR polymer spectral fingerprint, pollution indices and health implications.

Modified hydrogel for high efficiency SERS detection and adsorption removal of microplastics.

Designing organic-inorganic nanocomposite films based on poly(vinyl chloride+vinyl acetate) and V2O5 nanorods for photonic and dielectric devices

EDTA potentiates gentamicin and ofloxacin antibacterial activity against biofilms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius derived from canine superficial pyoderma.

Amalgamating rice straw and wood sawdust with chlorinated polyvinyl chloride as environmentally sustainable natural materials for radiation shields.

Microenvironment engineering for tyrosinase immobilization: A combined molecular dynamics and experimental study on activity regulation.

Interaction of nanoplastics and atrazine in a hydroponic system: Antagonistic phytotoxicity mediated by plant-microbe crosstalk and root endophytic bacteria restructuring.

Multimodal detection of microplastics in human kidney stones and multi-omics exploration of renal cell metaflammation.

Pipe material governs biofilm development and microbial communities more than organic suspended solids in drip irrigation systems in greenhouse settings.

External fire exposure represents a significant risk to roof covering systems, especially in wildfire-prone and industrial areas. This study presents the results of an extensive experimental campaign designed to evaluate the fire performance of low-slope roofing systems commonly used in commercial and industrial buildings. Four roof covering solutions have been tested, combining two types of waterproof membranes—polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)—with two different insulation cores—mineral wool and polyisocyanurate (PIR). The experimental procedures were based on the CEN/TS 1187-Test 1 method and assessing their estimated classification with the EN 13501-5 B ROOF(t1) criteria. The specimens were tested at two installation pitches (1.41° and 15°) and two wind conditions (no wind and with wind of 1.5 m.s -1 ). The study evaluated the influence of roof pitch, joint positioning, membrane type, insulation core, and wind on flame spread and temperature profiles. Results revealed that TPO membranes, especially when combined with PIR insulation, significantly increased flame spread and sustained combustion; however, they did not meet all the criteria for B ROOF(t1) classification in several configurations. Conversely, PVC membranes demonstrated superior fire performance, limiting flame spread and self-extinguishing the flames in different test conditions. Despite these differences, all tested solutions effectively prevented fire penetration and internal ignition. These findings underscore the need for careful selection of roofing components, particularly in high-risk areas, and highlight the importance of wind effect in fire testing of roofing systems.

Strengthening mechanisms of CaO on cesium (Cs) separation from a Cs-doped ash during thermal treatment with waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) addition

Shared inflammatory targets of phthalate plasticizers in MODS-related syndromes: An integrative network toxicology study with representative DEHP in vitro validation.

Adsorption behavior and mechanism of bisphenol S on photo-oxidatively aged polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics: A combined experimental and density functional theory study

Microplastics (MPs) can act as carriers for co-occurring contaminants in aquatic environments, potentially influencing the mobility, partitioning, and environmental fate of trace metals. In this study, the adsorption behavior of Mn, Ni, Co, and Ba onto pristine MP particles, specifically polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), was investigated in a multi-metal system. MP-metal interactions were characterized using complementary surface, spectroscopic, microscopic, and elemental analyses (BET, FTIR-ATR, SEM-EDX, ICP-OES). The results indicate generally higher adsorption for Co, Ni, and Mn compared to Ba for both MPs, with equilibrium adsorption capacities ranging from 0.011 to 0.032mg/g for PVC and 0.016 to 0.041mg/g for PP after 48h. Kinetic analyses indicated that adsorption onto PP was best described by the pseudo-first-order model, whereas PVC followed the Elovich model, suggesting differences in surface heterogeneity and interaction behavior. Equilibrium data were well fitted the Langmuir model for both polymers, reflecting apparent monolayer-like behavior in the multi-metal system rather than true monolayer adsorption on heterogeneous MP surfaces. Surface analyses revealed polymer-dependent metal distributions and changes in characteristic functional group regions, which were more pronounced for PP. These findings provide insight into the factors governing metal adsorption onto MPs under multi-metal conditions and highlight their potential role as supplementary carriers influencing metal distribution in aquatic systems.

Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is a key intermediate in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) production, and its manufacture via thermal cracking of 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) is highly energy intensive. This study aims to reduce the net energy demand of the EDC–VCM section through a heat-integrated process design. A steady-state simulation of the conventional EDC cracking and distillation train was developed as an industrial benchmark. Based on this model, a modified configuration was introduced by adding a feed–effluent heat exchanger to recover heat from the hot reactor effluent and preheat the combined fresh and recycled EDC feed, while maintaining reactor operating conditions and product specifications. Energy performance was evaluated by comparing heating and cooling duties of major equipment. The heat-integrated design lowered the total utility requirement from 9.39 × 10⁷ to 7.93 × 10⁷ kJ/h, equivalent to a 15.5% reduction in external energy demand and reducing total energy cost by 4.3%. These results demonstrate that a simple heat-exchanger retrofit can significantly improve energy efficiency in VCM production, providing a practical route to reduce utility consumption and operational costs. Copyright © 2026 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) is a key precursor in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polymer of considerable industrial significance. A major synthetic route to VCM involves the reaction of ethylene dichloride (EDC), producing VCM and hydrogen chloride as the principal products. This study aims to enhance the purity of VCM by implementing process improvements through the integration of distillation columns and recycling systems. The optimized configuration achieved an outstanding VCM purity of 99.97%, while simultaneously increasing energy efficiency and minimizing the formation of undesirable by-products. These results underscore the critical importance of advanced reactor design and purification technologies in elevating VCM quality, thereby contributing to more sustainable PVC production within the chemical industry. Copyright © 2026 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Microplastics as Emerging Viral Vectors: Nexus, Mechanisms, Ecological Implications and Health Risks.

The interphase formed between polymers and inorganic nanofillers plays a central role in determining the macroscopic properties of polymer nanocomposites, yet its molecular structure remains difficult to characterise in a systematic and physically meaningful way. In this work, we investigate the interfacial structuring of an amorphous polyvinyl chloride matrix confined by a rigid, SiO2slab using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. To resolve the gradual transition from the inorganic surface to the bulk polymer, we introduce and compare three chain-based layer-assignment schemes that progressively incorporate geometric proximity, conformational deformation, and explicit polymer-surface contacts. By combining layer-resolved real-space correlation functions, static structure factors, and gyration-tensor analysis, we obtain a comprehensive multiscale description of the polymer interphase. Density profiles and one-dimensional correlation functions reveal pronounced layering and anisotropic organisation normal to the interface, whereas lateral correlations remain short-ranged and melt-like, indicating that interfacial effects are strongly directional. Conformational analysis shows that interfacial chains are not primarily distinguished by large changes in coil size but rather by increased shape anisotropy and a preferential alignment parallel to the surface, with these distortions propagating several radii of gyration into the polymer matrix. Among the proposed schemes, the contact-aware model provides the sharpest discrimination of interfacial chains and yields the most consistent description of anisotropic correlations and conformational response, demonstrating the importance of explicitly accounting for polymer-surface interactions in defining interfacial layers. Overall, this work proposes a transferable, physically grounded framework for identifying and characterising polymer interphases in nanocomposites, linking local interfacial chemistry to mesoscopic structural organisation and collective density fluctuations.