2026-10-13
Case Study: Printing and Paper Products Industry | Waste Ink and Mixed Thinner/Solvent Recovery Project
I. Client Background
This enterprise specializes in printing and paper products. Its production processes continuously generate waste ink residues and mixed waste liquids (alcohol and thinner). Prior to the project's implementation, the company outsourced the disposal of all hazardous waste and faced two major challenges:
1. High hazardous waste disposal costs and significant environmental risks: Outsourcing the treatment of waste solvents cost up to 5,000 RMB per ton; the transportation of waste liquids posed leakage risks, and the company faced intense pressure regarding environmental regulatory compliance.
2. Persistently high procurement costs for thinner consumables: Annual consumption of thinner for printing press maintenance was approximately 8 tons at a unit price of 11,000 RMB per ton, resulting in massive annual expenditure on consumables and significant long-term pressure on production costs.
To align with the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Green and Low-Carbon Transformation of the Printing Industry" and meet local regulatory requirements for the utilization of recycled environmental resources, the company planned to introduce solvent distillation recovery equipment by 2026. The goal was to process production waste liquids on-site for resource recovery, thereby reducing costs and increasing efficiency. After evaluating various options, the company ultimately purchased the TE-60 explosion-proof solvent recovery machine from Chongqing JBETT Environmental Protection.
II. Equipment Specifications and Key Parameters
The TE-60 solvent recovery distillation unit is specifically designed for the printing industry to handle mixed waste solvents containing ink residues:
- Batch capacity: ≥50 L (handling mixed waste liquid comprising ink residue and alcohol-based thinner)
- Distillation cycle time: ≤4 hours
- Solvent recovery rate: ≥90% for thinner
- Safety features: Explosion-proof design; equipped with high-temperature alarms and over-pressure protection systems
- Control system: Supports semi-automatic and fully automatic operation; features real-time liquid level display and automatic temperature regulation; easy to operate and maintain, making it suitable for daily use by workshop personnel
III. Project Implementation Results
Following on-site delivery and commissioning, the equipment has been officially put into production:
1. Hazardous waste reduction and risk mitigation: On-site distillation and regeneration of waste liquids significantly reduce the total volume of hazardous waste requiring off-site transport, eliminate the risk of leakage during long-distance transport, and ensure compliance with environmental inspection requirements;
2. Solvent recycling and reduced material procurement: Distilled and purified thinner can be reused for printing press maintenance; a recovery rate exceeding 90% directly reduces the need to purchase virgin thinner, thereby cutting annual material procurement budgets;
3. Significant reduction in hazardous waste disposal costs: Only a small amount of distillation residue requires off-site disposal; compared to the previous practice of outsourcing the disposal of the entire waste liquid volume at 5,000 RMB/ton, hazardous waste disposal costs are drastically reduced;
4. User-friendly operation and controlled safety: Explosion-proof design combined with multiple safety interlocks, automated temperature control, and liquid level monitoring lowers the operational skill requirement and ensures compliance with safety standards for handling hazardous chemicals in printing workshops.
IV. Summary of Customer Value
This project represents a prime example of the printing industry's transition toward green and low-carbon operations. By utilizing solvent distillation and recovery technology, waste alcohol and thinner—materials that would otherwise require hazardous waste disposal—are transformed into reusable production raw materials. Delivering a triple benefit—environmental compliance, hazardous waste reduction, and lower production costs—this approach provides a replicable solution for the resource recovery and utilization of waste ink and cleaning agents generated by paper product and packaging printing enterprises.
