Interaction forces between ink particles, cellulose fibers and mineral fillers as determined by AFM

Recycling of wastepaper is an important industrial activity for the conservation of our natural resources. Wastepaper is mostly generated from newspaper and office waste (from photocopiers and laser printers) [1]. One important step in wastepaper recycling is the separation of ink from cellulose fibers and fillers. The efficiency of ink separation from wastepaper depends on the type of printing process, the type of ink, and the type of paper. For example, it is relatively easy to separate ink from newspaper waste; whereas, the separation of electrophotographic toners from office waste is more difficult mostly because the ink particles are fused during the printing process [2] and their surface properties change.