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The effect of ink types and printing processes on flotation deinking efficiency of wastepaper recycling

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Environmental Engineering and Policy

Abstract

Wastepaper is the largest fraction of solid waste. Flotation deinking plays an essential role in the product quality and process cost of wastepaper recycling. This paper investigated the effect of ink types and printing processes on flotation deinking. Examination of ink types in this study revealed that newsprint oil-based offset-cold and offset-heat inks contain substantial oil (45 to 60%) and resin (5 to 35%); water-based ink contains water (40%) and resin (polystyrene, 30%); and these inks are liquids with densities around 1 g/cm3 at 25 °C. On the other hand, photocopy and laser-print toners were found to be solid powders with particle diameters of about 20 μm, densities of 1 to 1.5 g/cm3, and a composition that consists primarily of styrene-acrylate copolymers (60 to 90%). Except for water-based ink, which is water soluble, all inks in their initial state are hydrophobic. It was found that for newsprint oil based offset-cold inks there is little change in their surface chemical properties, and their hydrophobic character is retained. These inks in the newsprint wastepaper pulp can be effectively removed by flotation. On the other hand, it was found that during the printing processes, the toner particles undergo polymerization (fusion) and oxidation with the subsequent formation of peroxide bonds due to exposure to heat, light, and oxygen (air). The fusion due to polymerization causes bonding to the paper fibers and the creation of larger toner particle sizes. The oxidation creates a greater polarity at the toner particle surface. These effects account for the poor efficiency in the flotation deinking of office waste. In order to improve office wastepaper recycling, it is evident, based on this study and policy considerations, that there is a need to find ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of flotation deinking by modification of the surface properties of printed toner particles, or designing new toner particles.

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Author notes

  1. Xiansheng Nie

    Present address: Department of Engineering, Clark Atlanta University, 223 James P. Brawley Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30314, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Xiansheng Nie & J. D. Miller

  2. Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, 30314, USA

    Y. D. Yeboah

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  1. Xiansheng Nie
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  2. J. D. Miller
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  3. Y. D. Yeboah
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Correspondence to Xiansheng Nie.

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Nie, X., Miller, J.D. & Yeboah, Y.D. The effect of ink types and printing processes on flotation deinking efficiency of wastepaper recycling. Environmental Engineering and Policy 1, 47–58 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100220050005

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100220050005

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