Chemicals used in paper processing: Common NameChemical NameChemical FormulaUsed ForSpecific DensityOther CharacteristicsAgalite or TalcSilicate of MagnesiaMgO-32%, SiO2-62%It gives paper a greasy or soapy feel. and enables it to take a high finish.2.6 - 2.8A natural fibrous form of talc, gray in color.AKDAlkyl Ketene Dimer Sizing AlumSulfate of AluminaAl2(SO4)3.18H2OFor alkaline sizing along with Rosin1.62 AlbarineNatural Sulfate of LimeCaSO4.2H2O - 100%A calcium salt that is used for a variety of purposes including: building materials.2.4 Ammonium Zirconium Carbonate(AZC)Ammonium Zirconium CarbonateCH2O3NH3ZrUsed as in-solubilizer, crosslinker & hardener1.36AZC is a clear, usually colorless solution, having an odor of ammonia and a pH of approximately 9.5. As a carbonate, it will react with acids, and so should not be used in coating systems below pH 7. In storage, it is stable for up to six months.AnthraquinoneAnthraquinoneC14H8O2Added to white liquor (alkaline cooking liquor) to improve pulp yield and to increase the rate of delignification.1.44yellow crystalline powderAnti-Foam/Defoamer To prevent foam (anti-foam) or to destroy it once it has formed (defoamer). Surface active, but highly insoluble in water.AsbestineSilicate of MagnesiaMgO-32%, SiO2-62%It is used as a loading agent in paper manufacture, particularly for blotting papers and board.2.6 - 2.8A mineral compound of almost pure fibrous magnesium silicate, which possesses physical characteristics between those of talc and asbestos.APEAlkylphenol EthoxylatesCH3(CH2)n(C6H4) (OCH2CH2)m-OHUsed as cleaning agents or surfactants ASAAlkenyl Succinic Anhydride Sizing Barium SulfateBarium SulfateBaSO4 - 100%Used as a pigment4.2-4.5White insoluble powder.BarytesBarium SulfateBaSO4 - 100%Used as filler4.2-4.5 Blanc FixeBarium SulfateBaSO4 - 100%Used as a base for watercolor pigments and as a filler in paper.4.2-4.5Powdered barium sulfateCaseinA milk phosphoprotein Binder or adhesive in coating formulation CMCCarboxy Methyl Cellulose Sizing Caustic Lye or Caustic Soda or LyeSodium HydroxideNaOHPulping and to maintain pH Chalk (Precipitated)Precipitated Calcium CarbonateCaCO3 - 100%Filler particularly with acidic sizing coating pigment2.7-2.9High Brightness & OpacityChalk (French or Spanish)Silicate of Magnesia4MgO+5SiO2+H2O; MgO - 33%; SiO262% 2.6-2.9A soft white compact talcChina Clay, KaolinHydrated Silicate of AluminaAl2O3-40%; SiO2-46%; H2O-13%Filler, Coating2.4-2.7 Chlorine DioxideChlorine DioxideClO2In Pulp Bleaching2.86 Chlorine GasChlorineCl2In Pulp Bleaching and water treatment2.86 DolomiteCalcium Magnesium CarbonateCaMg(CO3)2Filler, Coating2.86 DTPADiethylene Triamine Penta Acetate Used for chelation (removal of transition metals from pulp). EDTAEthylene Diamine Tetra acetic Acid Used for chelation (removal of transition metals from pulp). Guar GumNatural Polymer Dry Strength Additive cationic derivativeGypsum or Mineral White or PlasterNatural Sulfate of LimeCaSO4.2H2OGypsum board,2.4 Hydrogen PeroxideHydrogen PeroxideH2O2In Pulp Bleaching3.13-3.4 LimeCalcium OxideCaOAlkaline Pulping Process Chemical Recovery, Bleaching3.13-3.4 Lime StoneCalcium CarbonateCaCO3To make Lime Precipitated CaCO3 is used as Filler and in Coating MagnesiteMagnesium CarbonateMgCO3 -100% 2.5 OxygenOxygenO2In Pulp Bleaching OzoneOzoneO3In Pulp Bleaching RosinAbietic AcidC19H29COOHSizing Rosin SoapSodium AbietateC19H29COONaSizing Salt CakeSodium SulfateNa2SO4. 10H2OMakeup chemical in sulfate pulping chemical recovery (Na2SO4. --- Na2S)2.4 Soda AshSodium CarbonateNa2CO3Makeup chemical in alkaline pulping chemical recovery (Na2CO3 +Ca(OH)2 ---2NaOH+CaCO3)2.43-2.51 Sodium DithioniteSodium HydrosulfiteNa2 O4 S2Bleaching2.20White crystalline powder with weak sulforous odorSodium SilicateSodium SilicateNa2SiO3In waste paper deinking for wetting, peptization, ink dispersion, peroxide stabilization. Starch.Comprised of glucose units linked together by oxygen bridges called glycosidesWet and dry end additive SulfurSulfurSTo make HSO3 for bi-sulfite pulping TitaniaTitanium DioxideTiO2Filler to increase the opacity and brightness of paper. Used in coating also.3.84-4.26

Credit to everyone who is trying to recycle their ink cartridges, but I still have concerns about these printers and their consumables. Ink jet printers are just plain hard on the budget and the environment, and the cartridges can't be refilled indefinitely, many only once and very few more than two or three times. Many applications don't really need an ink jet, I see lots of these printers being used in places where a laser or dot matrix would be much better suited to the job. Often people buy them because the initial printer cost is very low, frequently because it's heavily subsided by the expensive cartridges, sometimes the printer is sold for less than a full set of cartridges. However, when you consider the price of ink and special paper, it's multiple times cheaper to take your digital photographs or images to a shop and have them use their state of the art printer worth thousands to print them for you. No need to clutter up your house with another printer, no need to change cartridges or anything. Best of all it's not more work, you can either go out to the store to buy cartridges or you can go to the store to have your pictures printed. The only major difference is price and quality, both of which are better. Some places do it mail order or over the internet now, so you could have your prints sent to you. Of course some people do need a colour printer at home or in their office, there are genuine needs, but then it's fair to point out that the price of colour laser printers has dropped a lot now, and they're much better suited to high volume applications, but also don't dry up if not used for a while. They also work out much cheaper in the long term. Anyone who can justify their need for a high quality colour printer, for example a high volume of prints being made, can probably justify the initial expense of a colour laser as it will save them so much money in the long term.

I have an HP all-in-one printer with 6 cartrides. Sometimes, I do change when the low indicator pops up, but not always. I use the build-in features of the printer to see how low the cartridges are. I may print a report or just look at the printer's graphics display. If there is 8% to 10% left, I'll print a bit more; If its down to 5%, its change out time. I not sure how the modern printers manage the ink supply these days. Before I retired, I had bad experiences with early ink jets, noteable, a Tektronics printer. If this one ran dry and any air entered the supply side of the print head, the pulse pump would loose its prime and would not oeprate again until primed. It could not re-prime itself as it needed to re-establish surface tension with the ink supply. It required a service call to get it going again. Paying a tech over $200 just to prime the print head was too much. Obviously, this printer was replaced during the next office equipment upgrade cycle. These comments apply to printers with fixed ink jets and with cartridges that hold only ink. [On some printer models, each cartridge has the print jets built into the cartridge, and on these, you can run those to empty without any prine problem.] Because of past, but very old experience, I do not run a fixed print head dry of ink. I do not wish to take a chance of loosing prime and having to re-establish it, although, I suppose the new printers have addressed that problem - I simply do not know and it is not explained in the instructions that comes with the printer. The instruction is: Change the cartridge when indicated.

Sue_va, there is a shelf life on ink. They have a use by or expiration date on the packages and I'd pay attention to that if you don't use much ink. I used to go through a lot of ink and refilled my cartridges. Then I was able to buy generics so cheap ($3 ea) that it didn't pay to mess with refills and you should only refill a cartridge a few times anyway. It's not a permanent cartridge. I've seen people ruin printers from refilling too many times. Then I started printing a lot more so I bought a laser. Then shortly after buying the laser I didn't print as much. Sometimes you can't win! :) Recently I bought a 3-in-1 for the scanner and copier uses so I'll be using the ink a little now. Thought about buying a cartridge to keep on the shelf like I used to do but won't do it now. Never know how long it'll be or how long it'll last. We'll see.