ARS | Publication request: ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF VEGETABLE OIL-BASED LITHOGRAPHIC NEWS INKS

Submitted to: Taga Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 6, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: A technology was developed for preparing ink vehicles using vegetable oils in the complete absence of petroleum. From these vehicles, lithographic news inks were formulated by adding appropriate pigments. Physical properties and performance of these inks met or exceeded the industry standards. Inks prepared by this technology were evaluated for their potential biodegradation with both gravimetric (using mixed cultures of soil microorganisms) and "Modified Sturm Test" (using activated sludge) methods. Used for comparison were commercial news inks consisting of vehicles prepared with petroleum resin base and either mineral oil or vegetable oil solvents. Results of both methods showed that the USDA inks degraded faster and more completely than either of the petroleum resin based commercial inks. Also comparison of deinking properties and analysis of VOC content (using method 24) showed the superiority of the vegetable oil based inks over petroleum resin based inks.