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Recovery of titanium dioxide and other pigments from waste paint by pyrolysis

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Abstract

In this work, a model paint containing several types of inorganic pigments was pyrolyzed in a microwave-heated unit. The goal of the pyrolysis process was to recover and recycle the inorganic components in the paint, most importantly titanium dioxide (TiO2). The solid residue remaining after pyrolysis was further heat treated in air to remove most of the char in the TiO2-containing product. The recovered TiO2-containing product was used in two types of paint formulation as a replacement for virgin pigments. The properties of the paints containing recycled TiO2 pigment and extenders were evaluated and compared with a standard paint formulation containing only virgin TiO2 pigment and virgin extenders. A reduction in paint whiteness was observed but the opacity, gloss, and durability were nearly equivalent to that of the standard paint. Another consequence of using recycled pigments was that the recycled mix of TiO2 pigments and extenders was harder to disperse in the paint than the mix based on virgin materials, thus giving the painted surface a somewhat rough texture. The recycled material has shown promising results as a pigment/extender but further work is needed to optimize the recycled product to meet whiteness and dispersion requirements for incorporation in paint formulations on an industrial scale.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been funded by Vinnova, Akzo Decorative Paints UK, and Stena Metal AB Sweden, and this is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Stellan Holgersson, Chalmers University of Technology; Dr. Christopher Knee, Chalmers University of Technology; and Kim Henriksson, Stena Recycling International AB are all acknowledged for their assistance. The authors are also grateful to Dr. Phil Taylor at the Akzo Decorative Paint Slough facility lab for help with formulation and production of the test paints.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Materials Recycling, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden

    Mikael C. F. Karlsson & Britt-Marie Steenari

  2. ICI Paints/AkzoNobel, Building 183 Lab 305, Wexham Road, Slough, SL2 5DS, UK

    Daniel Corr

  3. STENA METALL AB, Fiskhamnsgatan 8 D, Box 4088, 400 40, Göteborg, Sweden

    Christer Forsgren

Authors
  1. Mikael C. F. Karlsson
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  2. Daniel Corr
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  4. Britt-Marie Steenari
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Correspondence to Mikael C. F. Karlsson.

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Karlsson, M.C.F., Corr, D., Forsgren, C. et al. Recovery of titanium dioxide and other pigments from waste paint by pyrolysis. J Coat Technol Res 12, 1111–1122 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-015-9707-y

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