Electrochemical co-production of halogen and hydrogen from waste plastic

A method for generation of hydrogen and/or halogen from a waste source comprising at least one halogen containing polymer, comprising:

• admixing the waste source with a solvent to dissolve the at least one halogen containing polymer in the waste source;
• admixing the solvent having the at least one halogen containing polymer dissolved therein with an alkoxide base under conditions to dehalogenate the at least one halogen containing polymer and precipitate at least one dehalogenated polymer, resulting in an admixture comprising the precipitated at least one dehalogenated polymer, a halogen salt, and an alkyl alcohol;
• separating the precipitated at least one dehalogenated polymer from the admixture, wherein the halogen salt and the alkyl alcohol remain in the solvent;
• introducing the halogen salt and the alkyl alcohol into an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an oppositely disposed anode, wherein upon application of a voltage, halogen ions from the halogen salt are converted to a halogen gas at the anode and the alkyl alcohol reacts at the cathode to generate an alkoxide and hydrogen gas;
• and
• recovering the halogen gas and the hydrogen gas from the electrochemical cell.