The use of surfactants in de-inking paper for paper recycling

Many de-inking surfactants have been claimed in patents. Alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates are commonly used in wash de-inking whereas alcohol alkoxylates and fatty acid alkoxylates are commonly used in flotation de-inking and combined flotation/wash de-inking processes. Dispersed ink particle redeposition onto cellulose fibers is a significant problem. Recent developments have occurred in the improvement of de-inking chemicals and in the understanding of surface chemistry.