The separation of color toner waste for recycle and reuse is of great interest due to its potential environmental and economic benefits. This research focuses on the separation of two color toner particles by utilizing their charging properties. In order to facilitate separation, charging properties of toner particles and the resulting interactions of the particles with an electric field were analyzed. Varying both internal and external charge control additives (CCAs) and the concentration of carbon black in the black toner were the primary variables considered to alter the charge of the toners. Subsequently, the parameters that influence particle trajectory of toner particles interacting with an electric field were examined. The purpose was to identify key variables that improve the separation of color toner particles. A numerical model of the charge spectrograph was developed in order to test toners with varying properties as well as to analyze the effects of changes to the system (air velocity, electric field, etc.). The numerical model simulates the particle trajectory within the electric field and predicts the location where particle deposition occurs. Both experimental and numerical results of separating toner particles will be discussed in this presentation.
Anahita Williamson, Susan Powers, "Electrostatic Separation of Color Toner Particles for Material Recovery and Reuse" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP24), 2008, pp 553 - 554, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2008.24.1.art00025_2