A reliable analytical method has been developed to quantify poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in environmental samples. Quantification was conducted via combustion ion chromatography (C-IC). Hydrogen chloride (HCl) was quantitatively released from PVC during thermal decomposition and trapped in an absorption solution. Selectivity of the marker HCl in complex environmental samples was ensured using cleanup via pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with methanol at 100 °C (discarded) and tetrahydrofuran at 185 °C (collected). Using this method, recoveries of 85.5 ± 11.5% and a limit of quantification down to 8.3 μg/g were achieved. A variety of hard and soft PVC products could be successfully analyzed via C-IC with recoveries exceeding >95%. Furthermore, no measurable overdetermination was found for various organic and inorganic matrix ingredients, such as sodium chloride, sucralose, hydroxychloroquine, diclofenac, chloramphenicol, triclosan, or polychlorinated biphenyls. In addition, sediments and suspended particular matter showed PVC concentrations ranging up to 16.0 and 220 μg/g, respectively. However, the gap between determined polymer mass and particle masses could be significant since soft PVC products contain plasticizers up to 50 wt %. Hence, the results of the described method represent a sum of all chlorine-containing polymers, which are extractable under the chosen conditions.

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Het publiek-private samenwerkingsproject 'Op naar Precisielandbouw 2.0' is een gecoördineerde R&D inspanning op het strategische thema Robuuste plantaardige productie en Smart Agri & Food (Resource efficiency en Markt en Keteninnovaties) binnen TKI A&F (TKI-AF-14275). Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd door de private projectpartners in samenwerking met TU Delft en Stichting Wageningen Research (WR).

Based on a MoU between the Tanzanian and Dutch government a collaboration was started to further improve the potato value chain in Tanzania. A cluster of NL companies participated in this Public Private Partnership (PPP -in Dutch PPS) to set up a Center of Development for the Potato Industry in Tanzania (CD-PIT). The project focused on a robust, competitive sector, on facilitating private sector sustainable development and creation of jobs and capacity building of farmers and companies in Tanzania involved in the value chain for sustainable potatoes production and marketing.The project outcomes showed big potential of potato production with high yields, when using high quality propagation materials and effective crop management. This contributed to the commitment of banks to provide loans to potato farmers and farmers cooperatives to enable them to invest more in the required inputs for a profitable potato yield. A local team was trained to enable knowledge transfer directly to farmers or via train-the-trainer concepts.Sustainable business relations between Dutch and Tanzanian partners and improved food security, more safe and healthy food are within reach.

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