Pyrolysis volatiles and environmental impacts of printing paper in air.

Pyrolysis volatiles and the environmental impact of printing paper in an air atmosphere were investigated using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. CO and light-pollution products were found to be the major products from pyrolysis volatiles; furthermore, because oxygen participates in the chemical reaction, many of the pyrolysis volatiles emitted during the paper printing process were different from those formed under an N atmosphere. Although a small number of the volatiles were moderately toxic products, the concentrations of these volatiles were low. Heat-induced inkless eco-printing (HIEP) was found to take less time than the pyrolysis experiment in this paper and thus resulted in fewer pyrolysis volatiles. Thus, fewer pyrolysis volatiles will be emitted within the practical temperature range; in particular, no carcinogens were emitted in the pyrolysis temperature range of 250-700 °C. Therefore, HIEP was found to be an ecologically and environmentally preferable technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]