METHODS FOR RECLAIMING DEVELOPING SOLVENTS

摘要

The present invention relates to an improved method fro reclaiming and recycling developing solvents used in the production of flexographic printing plates. More specifically, the invention relates to reclaiming and recycling developing solvent through centrifugation and/or filtration. According to the invention, the solvent used to develop the printing plates can be reclaimed and/or recycled by simply centrifuging the polymer-contaminated solvent. Ih certain embodiment, the centrifuged solvent is further filtered. The process involves transferring the contaminated solvent, from a plate processor (22) or dirty holding tank (30), to a centrifuge (20) and/or filter (50), and centrifuging and/or filtering the contaminated solvent to remove the polymer. The reclaimed solvent can be transferred directly back to the plate processor (22) or to a clean holding tank (28).