IMPROVED DEINKING METHOD USING INK AGGLOMERATION

摘要

Deinking of printed paper is accomplished by repulping printed wastepaper in an aqueous medium containing a deinking chemical. The presence of the deinking chemical causes initial agglomeration of ink particles to produce an ink pulp medium. Agglomerated ink particles are removed from the ink pulp medium by size and density separation procedures to separate coarse ink and produce a fine ink particle stream. The fine ink particle stream is recirculated to cause additional agglomeration of ink particles. The reagglomerated ink particles are removed from the fine ink particle stream by size and density separation procedures to produce a substantially ink free pulp medium. The invention provides agglomeration processes with high ink removal from printed paper.