Black Pigment Matters

Waste Paper Derived Biochar for Sustainable Printing Products
Staples Sustainable Innovation Laboratory Project

Here is an exhaustive study to determine if Biochar can replace Carbon Black for printing inks. Carbon Black was historically produced by burning hydrocarbons in low oxygen generating soot. I haven't followed up on this, but it seems reasonable if the demand for printed hard copies hasn't disappeared from competition by electronic media. Regardless, the article is a treasure trove with many cheerful facts about the chunks of micro-Biochar!

TAT


[quote][The Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
performed a research and development assessment in conjunction with the Staples Sustainable
Innovation Laboratory (SSIL) to determine the potential of pyrolyzed waste paper as a novel, cost-
effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable black pigment for use in common consumer
and commercial printing applications (e.g. inkjet, lithography and flexography). To do so, the
primary focus of the project was the creation and testing of a stable form of elemental carbon called
“biochar” (BC) to replace the heavy fuel oil derived “carbon black” (CB) pigment ubiquitously
used in inks since the late 1800’s. /quote]

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