Recent research contributions to deinking technology and next challenges

Large research programmes for understanding and optimising the deinking process, for improving deinked pulp quality and for developing new uses for deinked pulp, have been going on for 30 years and are still in progress. The main topics of these research programmes are related to improvement of the quality of the recovered paper furnish (including tools and procedure for quality control and ecodesign / recyclability of paper and board product), recycling process optimisation (including better efficiency of ink detachment and removal, stickies management, energy saving,loss reduction...) and DIP quality improvement and use (including bleaching, adaptation of papermachine wet end chemistry to carry over of contaminants); This paper will describe some examples of the research results : - Deinkability improvement of flexo printed paper and adaptation of the deinking process, - Reduction of stickies fragmentation and improved ink detachment through reduced pulping time followed by dispersion, - Improved stickies removal through optimised screening, - Incidence of DIP contamination carry over on wet end chemistry efficiency, Paper recycling still has challenges to face. The commitment of the final users of paper and board products to use recycling friendly additives (ink, adhesive) is required for a better recyclability of paper and board products.. There is a call for innovative management solutions for recycling rejects (including process loss reduction but also use of byproducts and separate recycling flows for fibres and fillers). Further improvement of recycling process efficiency for better quality/cost ratio are required for the sustainability of paper recycling.