Possibilities of Recycling Digital Prints

The efficiency of defibration and flotation in the recycling of Xerox and Xeikon prints as well as the influence of toner retention on some optical and mechanical properties of handsheets were investigated. The results show that the difference in flotation efficiency is mainly proportional to the number of toner-fibre aggregates. It was noticed that there was an important change in optical properties and stretchability of the handsheets after removal of toner particles by flotation, but that flotation had a smaller influence on tear and burst of samples.