ARS | Publication request: BIODEGRADATION, VOC CONTENT AND DEINKING PROPERTIES OF VEGETABLE OIL BASED PRINTING INKS AND THEIR COMPARISON WITH PETROLEUM INKS

Submitted to: Industrial Crops and Products International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 24, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: A technology was developed for preparing lithographic inks from vegetable oils in the absence of petroleum. Physical properties and performance of these inks meet or exceed the industry standards. Ink 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. Commercial news inks consisting of vehicles prepared with petroleum resin base and either mineral oil or vegetable oil solvents were used for comparison. In the Gravimetric method, fermentations were allowed to proceed for 5, 12 and 25 days. In 25 days soybean oil degraded nearly completely, USDA's 100% soy oil-based vehicle degraded 82-92%, and commercial hybrid soy oil based and petroleum based vehicles degraded 58-68% and 17-27%, respectively. Adding pigment to the vehicles slowed the degradation of ink vehicles; although, neither time nor the type of pigment played a significant role. In "Modified Sturm Test" method, the extent of degradation is determined by measuring carbon dioxide evolution. In all cases USDA's ink degraded faster and more completely (for all four colors) than either hybrid soy oil based or petroleum based inks. Also, comparison of deinking properties and analysis of VOC content (using method 24, 24A and 30) showed the superiority of vegetable oil based inks over petroleum resin based inks.