Aerosol-enhanced deinking of recycled paper by column flotation

Flotation deinking has become the process of choice for removing ink from re-pulped paper. Hydrophobic ink particles are removed from the pulp after collection and transport by rising air bubbles. Previous work demonstrated that coating air bubbles with an insoluble liquid (silicone oil) enhanced their ability to remove carbon black particles from a dispersion in water. Bubbles were coated with the oil by dispersing air containing small oil …