Test: Inks vs 50% Alcohol

Problem:
Inks are very difficult to get out of paper if they are absorbed. Many of the components are dyes and finely ground particulates. Their removal may need a multi stage approach to wash them from paper.

Method:
To test the best solvents for inked cards and paper I re-used the dried recipe card which had been through the water wash test. The inked paper was placed in a 50% Alcohol and 50% water bath. Admittedly this could have been a higher concentration.



Image 1. Dried recipe card 'before' From left to right, blue permanent marker, black permanent marker, pencil, red pen, blue pen, black ballpoint pen, black ballpoint pen, pink highlighter, black ballpoint pen.


Image 2. Recipe card 'during' From left to right, blue permanent marker, black permanent marker, pencil, red pen, blue pen, black ballpoint pen, black ballpoint pen, pink highlighter, black ballpoint pen. Image taken 5 min after immersion.
Note the black, blue and red ballpoint ink are beginning to dissolve. The black ink appears to be giving off a blue solute as it breaks down.


Image 3. @2 hours. Recipe card 'after' From left to right, blue permanent marker, black permanent marker, pencil, red pen, blue pen, black ballpoint pen, black ballpoint pen, pink highlighter, black ballpoint pen. immersion.



Results:
The remnants of the highlighter were 100% removed.

The black ballpoint pens now look dark blue.

The blue pen and red pen did lighten slightly likely due to some of its composition being water soluble it was still approximately 80% visible but certainly lightened.



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