Black in Used Batteries - DOST Sci

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'The Production of Marker Pen fnk from Carbon
Black in Used Batteries
ABSTRACT. A study was done on the production ofmarker
pen inks utilizing cabon black from used bafferies
as the
main pigment source. The carbon black was obtained
by
opening used batteries, and scraping with a spatula. Th!
giC*Tt was ground and mixed withthe vehicle, glycerol.
Initially, the pigments were mixed with the solvent ethanol
to assure that they are completely dissolved. The binder
maltrin was then added followed by the additives vinegar
and copper sulfate solution. The ink samples were then
transferred into recycled marker pen casings.
The qualities ofthe samples were tested and compared
to markerpens available commercially. The qualities
iested
were: intensity of blackness, consistency of blackness,
stabilify ofblackness, resistance to fading, odor, and overall
acceptability. The samples had varied amounts of the
pigment source, carbon black, to determine the best
proportion. The tests showed that the samples were generally
inferior to commercial pens.
Carbon black has a greatpotential as an altemative
pigment source. The researchers recommend ftrrther
study
on this project to obtain better, useful results.
rc
ffiIoDflL{Nl
JUNT.R
INTRODUCTION
Marker pens have always played a significant part in
our daily lives. In school, students widely use it in various
activities like poster making, arhvork desigrrs, and other
projects. In most offices,
it is often
presentations along with projectors.
used in visual
It is also used in
warehouses and factories in labelling countless production
stocks. Generally, these marker pens have ,"**d evelyone
in one way or another.
Nowadays, the prices of certain commodities have
steadily rising. Changes in the economy biggered these
incidents which have greatly affected the-majGty of the
population. Among the products greatly affected
are school
and office supplies, which include marker pens. This has
been-
often resulted in the scarcity of quality marker pens. Their
quality has greatly deteriorated due to the manufacturer's
efforts to lorver ploduction cost and rnaintain a reasonable
price. Many people like students are forced to purchase
low-quality irens due to budget constraints because it is
difficult to buy a high-quality per which is usually priced
stifily.
This situation has greatly motivated the rcsearchers
to produce malker pens fi'om altemative materials. The group
arms to produce an trk utilizing carbon black as the rnain
prgnent soucc. This calbon blackcomes frorn usedbatteries
u,hich are usually discarded and serve no other pulpose.
The researchers used old marker pen casings instead ofnew
ones.
Writing inks must have certain special char-acteristics
for them to function properly. The blackness of the ink
rnust be intense. Wrcn the ink is used in a rnarker pen, the
ink must easily flow and must have a cerlain degree of
clarity. It must not clot nor drip too easily due to excessit e
solubility. The ink must be stable when written on glass. It
should have vcry littlc odor and must easily dry and producc
pelmanent tint. The pennanerice rnust not vary elr-atically
(CoLlier''s Errcyclopedia, I 9lJ0).
a
of three basic
components. These are the vehicle (liquid component), the
pigment which is also known as the ooloring matter, and
speoial additives added to the solution to sive it cerlain
qualities like color' (Collier's Encyclopedia, I 980).
ae
Pigrnents ale usually made of carbon. Sorne of these
graphite and lampblack (Shreve, 1960). pigrnenrs give
the color of the ink.
It is ground finely and remains
undissolved as rnixed in the vehicle (Collier.'s Encyclopedia, 1980). Carbon does not react cheinically at nonnal
atrnosl:treric conditious. This quality gives
it
many
industrial applications. This is why it is geuerally used as
the pigrnent in newspapers, magazine, carbol papers,
pencils, etc. (Slueve, 1960). An altemative source of black
pigments rvould greatly alfect the production cost of inks.
Battery, a waste product, contains calbou black which can
be used as pigrnents (Vinal, 1980)
The vehicle gives the viscicus nature of the ink
(Collier's Encyclopedia, 1972). Some substances that can
be possibly used as vehicle are glycerol, acetone, and other
oils (Drake, 1965). Glycerol would make a good vehicle
because
ofits viscous nature
(Dicayan, 1978).
A
Collection of Pigments. In this study, the pigment
fu\rt or triple A batte ries. Tlre
metal casings of the batteries \yer€ r€lnoved using pliers.
used was obtained flsm ussd
The anode casing
r.r,as
pried open and the carbon rod cathode
uas removed. With the use of a spatula, the carbon black
rvas remqved and collected in a dish.
B. Preparation of Pigments. The car.bon rvas placed
in an evaporating dish and dlied in an oven for one (l) day.
After the rnaterial lns dlied, it was ground with the use of a
morlar and pestle. The ground calbon u'as then filtered using
a sieve to produce furer, unifonl particles.
C. Preparation of Vehicle. Oils are usually used in
the vehicles in inks. These are usually cornrnercially
RE\'IEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Generally, inks ar.e just mixtules
MI{TEruALSANDMETHODS
and high absorbancy
ol
papei-
available. Glycerol was mainly used by the group because
of its viscous nature and high absorbancy on paper.. Coconut
oil u,as initially consideled but earlier tests shorved that it
carulot dissolve the solid particles in the mixture.
D. Preparation of Ink. Lritially, the ground carbon
black was dissolved in the solvent, ethanol. The solution
was nrixed thoroughly in a Vortex rnixer. Thc vehiclc
glycerol u'as then added to the solution. Maltr-in. which is
the binder, u,as thel added and rnixed. The additrves, vinegar
and copper sulfate solution, were also added to impror.e the
ink's pemanence. Each tirne a component was added, the
solution was mixed through the Vortex mixer. The amount
of each component rvas the same for all sarnples, except for
the carbon black.
E. Evaluation of Samples. After the ink was transferred into recycled mar*er pen casings, the sarnples were
tlren tested. Ten (10) pmelists wer€ requested to compare
the qualities of the altemative ink to the cornmercial Den.
Table of Composition of
Sample
A
Carbon(qms)
I
I
1
2
I
b1
t.5
2
1.5
c1
I
Ethanol (mL) Glycerol (mL)
5
q
5
5
n
z
t
5
5
The qualities compared were: consistency of blackness,
stability of blackness, intensity of blackness, r-esistance to
failing, odor, and overall acceptahility. Friedmanl's test of
significancc was used to test the r-esults.
JUNIOR HTODRUITII
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RESWTSANDDISCUSSION
The first part of this project involves the collection of
carbon black from discarded, used batteries. The metal
covering of the batteries were rerroved followed by the top
plastic cover. The irmer metal casing was pried open and
the carbon black was scraped using spatulas and rnetal wiles.
Using a mortar and pestle, the carbon black was ground and
screened through a sieve. The grinding and pounding were
repeated several tines to assure unifomity of fineness of
the particles.
The pigments were initially dissolved in the solvent
ethanol to properly produce a homogenous solution. The
vehicle glycerol was then added to the solution. The
solution was mixed thoroughly using theVortex mixer. After
these steps, the binder maltrin was then added to rnake the
solution stable and permanent.
Dextrin is commonly used as binder but due to its
inavailabili{, maltrin was used as a substitute. The additives
vinegar and copper sulfate solution were also added to the
primary components to irnprove the ink's permanence. The
solutions were mixed through the Vortex mixer and
trausferred into recycled rnarker pen casings. The samples
were then tested and compared to the control of the study,
which is the commercial pen. Panelists were asked to rate
the sarnples using a scale of I to I 0 with l0 denoting positive
extremity.
In the intensity-of-blackness test, only samples Bl
and 82 produced an acceptable tint. The consistency-ofblackness test also revealed the same samples B I and 82 to
produce a consistent darkness. In the stability-of-blackness
test, results showed that none of the samples were stable in
writing. The resistance-to-fading test also revealed the
samples' inability to resist fading.
In the odor test, results showed thatthe samples were
comparable to commercial pens which has an alcohol-like
srnell. The last test shows that the samples are hardly
acceptable and more study is needed to produce better
results. Friedmann's Test of Significance was used in
detennidng the samples'acceptability. S tab was the sarne
for all, und equal to 62.
CONCLUSION
The project was able to produce the altemative ink
but its qualities were unacceptable. The panelists' ratings
clearly showed the samples have inferior quality as
compared to the commercial pen. Friedmann's Test of
Significance also showed that the samples were not
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cornparable or better than the commercial pens.
The poor results could be due to the improper
concentrations of the components. The amount of the other
components must also be varied and other secondary
components must be studied and added to the ink.
The high potential of this project would be of g'eat
help to many people from manufacturers to consumers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The group recommends further work on the use of
carbon black as a pigment source for marker pens. Many
steps canbe done to improve the quality of the ink produced.
The process of collection of carbon blacks must be
improved to rrake it faster and more efficient. The carbon
must not be wasted nor discarded.
A study must be done to search for other secondary
components needed in ink production. The addition of these
components would greatly improve the quality of the ink.
To find the best proportions, the amount of the other
cornponents mnst also be varied.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Collier's Enc-vclopedia. Vol. 13. "Types of inks." New
York. U.S.A..
Collier's Publishing Corporation. 1980.
Dicayan, E. 1978. Chemical Properties. New York,
U.s.A. .love Pnblications.
Drake, J. 1965. Chemical Composition
of
Some
Solutions. London Bridee andWeston
Incorporated.
Shreve, R.N. 1965. Chemical Process Industries. Tokyo:
McGrawhill
Book Company, Incorporated.
Vnal, G.W. 1980. Primary Batteries. NewYork, U.S.A.:
JohnWiley
And Sons, lncorporated.
RESEARCHERS
Jansen V. Fajardo
Vincent Markku F. Seguerra
John Quincy T. Verzosa
Daniel S. Tisrnal
II
ADVISER
Ms..Iuanita M. Cruz
Philippine Science High School
Diliman, Quezon City