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Inicio Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio VOCs monitoring of new materials for ceramic tiles decoration: GC–MS analysis ...
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Vol. 56. Núm. 5.
Páginas 226-236 (Septiembre - Octubre 2017)
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Vol. 56. Núm. 5.
Páginas 226-236 (Septiembre - Octubre 2017)
Open Access
VOCs monitoring of new materials for ceramic tiles decoration: GC–MS analysis of emissions from common vehicles and inkjet inks during firing in laboratory
Monitorización de los COV de nuevos materiales para la decoración de azulejos cerámicos: análisis con GC-MS de las emisiones de vehículos comunes y de tintas digitales durante la cocción en laboratorio
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Giorgia Ferrari
Autor para correspondencia
giorgia.ferrari@unimore.it

Corresponding author.
, Paolo Zannini
Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Table 1. Sampled vehicles.
Table 2. Classification of inks by FTIR and comparison with vehicles.
Table 3. Identified compounds in vehicles emissions.
Table 4. Identified compounds in I23 emissions.
Table 5. Identified compounds in I49 emissions.
Table 6. Identified compounds in I2 emissions.
Table 7. Identified compounds in I33 emissions.
Table 8. Identified compounds in I53 emissions.
Table 9. Identified compounds in I50 emissions.
Table 10. Identified compounds in I24 emission.
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Abstract

The decoration of ceramic tiles “ink-jet revolution” has brought significant advantages to tiles manufacturing, but the explosive diffusion, until 4–5 years ago, of this technique has not been accomplished by an adequate scientific research. Among all the features that have to be studied yet, one of the most important is the influence of the new generation inks on the total emission at ceramic chimneys. In this paper, we present a first characterization of emissions from a set of commercial inks and vehicles: they were collected by propter firing of samples in an electric kiln and analyzed by GC–MS. This study is part of a larger research project, which includes the chemical characterization and the evaluation of thermal behavior of inks and vehicles by TG-DTA and other techniques. The obtained results permit to divide common vehicles into 3 classes, depending on their thermal behavior and emissions pattern. Inks, most of which present an ester based formulation, sometimes mixed with glycols or paraffins, follow the behavior of their single components. The most common formulation leads to the presence in the emission pattern of evaporation products (2-ethylhexyl esters of lauric, myristic, decanoic and octanoic acids) and decomposition products (mainly aldehydes and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol).

Keywords:
Color
Tiles
Digital inks
Thermal properties
Emissions
Resumen

La decoración de los azulejos cerámicos mediante tecnología Ink-jet ha supuesto numerosas ventajas en la producción de baldosas cerámicas, pero su rápida implantación no ha sido acompañada por una adecuada investigación científica, hasta hace 4–5 años. Entre todas las características que deberían ser estudiadas, una de las más importantes es la influencia de las nuevas tintas digitales en las emisiones totales de las chimeneas cerámicas. En este artículo presentamos una primera caracterización de las emisiones de un grupo de tintas y vehículos comerciales: las emisiones se recogieron durante la cocción en laboratorio y fueron analizadas por GC-MS. Este estudio es parte de una investigación más completa, que incluye la caracterización química y la evaluación del comportamiento térmico de tintas y vehículos por TG-DTA y otras técnicas. Los resultados permiten la clasificación de los vehículos más comunes en 3 clases, dependiendo de su comportamiento térmico y emisiones. La mayoría de las tintas que presentan una formulación a base de ésteres, algunas veces mezclados con glicoles o parafinas, siguen la conducta de cada uno de sus componentes. Las formulaciones más comunes presentan productos de evaporación (2-etilhexil ésteres de ácidos láurico, mirístico, decanoico y octanoico) y productos de descomposición (principalmente aldehídos y 2-etil-1-hexanol).

Palabras clave:
Color
Pavimentos
Tintas digitales
Propiedades térmicas
Emisiones
Texto completo
Introduction

From 2001, the ink-jet revolution in decoration technologies for ceramic tiles has started and nowadays it has become the most widespread technique [1].

This incredible success is due to its well-known pros, in comparison with traditional methods such rotary serigraphy and Rotocolor® systems: almost unlimited possibilities of decoration, reduced hazards of mechanical stress on unfired tiles, non-flat and expanded surfaces are now decorable, easier storage of decoration models, etc.

Before its introduction in ceramic industry, ink-jet technology had been already applied to other industrial applications (microchips, home printers, LCD and plasma screens, etc.).

Among the different methods of jetting, decoration of tiles is based on drop-on-demand (DOD) technique, where a software controls the deposition of inks drop by drop [2,3].

Digital inks for ceramic decoration are composed, until now, mainly of two phases: an inorganic pigment and an organic liquid phase.

Pigments (20–45% of the total weight) are usually crystalline ground compounds (metal aluminates, silicates or oxides), characterized by thermal stability up to 1200–1250°C.

Pigment particles are kept in suspension by the liquid phase that must have also some specific rheological properties (high boiling point, low viscosity, etc.). This phase is divided in two main components: the vehicle (50–70% of the total weight) and the additives (5–10% of the total weight).

In spite of its success, ink-jet decoration has also some cons. For example, inks must have some restricted rheological properties to be jettable (diameter of pigment particles below 1μm, surface tension between 20 and 45mN/m, etc.) [4], at the same time, granulometry of pigments has to guarantee precise chromatic performances and avoid, as much as possible, sedimentation, which is generally more problematic to be overcome than in traditional inks.

As ink-jet decoration is a quite recent innovation for ceramic industry and according to the continuous and fast developments of this technique, until now scientific researches were focused just on few points, mainly related to rheological performances of inks [5,6].

For example, only during the last 2 years some studies on the chemical characterization of inks were proposed [7].

One of the most important aspect that still lacks a proper knowledge and comprehension, is how new digital ceramic inks contribute to emissions at chimneys, when they go through the firing processes of ceramic tiles. This problem has not to be underestimated because legislation regarding this matter is quite restrictive, at least in Italy, and understanding how new materials interact to modify gaseous emissions is fundamental to prevent and control the emission of potentially hazardous compounds.

Ceramic district of Sassuolo (Modena, Italy), for example, is under the control of ARPA Emilia-Romagna regulation that fixes specific limits for VOCs and aldehydes in emissions of ceramic industry [8].

Recently, Italian Confindustria Ceramica in collaboration with Centro Ceramico has published a report on the performances and environmental impact of producers of ceramic tiles between 2010 and 2013 [9]. This document underlines the increasing of VOCs in the period under consideration. Aldehydes, for example, have registered a significant increase in 2012 in complete manufacturing cycle, followed by a reduction in 2013, while in partial manufacturing cycles this value was still increasing in 2013. These are symptoms of changes in the ceramic industry, which may be linked to the introduction of new materials by inkjet technology.

Regardless of their growth, ARPA did not reported values higher than VOCs law limits, but some of these compounds (not fully identified yet) could be potentially irritating for throat, eyes or skin [10].

It is also necessary to take in consideration the particular conformation of ceramic kilns, which operate in counter-current [11]. This set-up implicates for tiles, with just printed inks on their surface, a thermal shock to even 500°C while entering in the pre-kiln. These temperatures are obtained thanks the hot air coming from the firing sectors, which passes above tiles surface and goes directly toward the chimney. Inks can, so, have a combustive reaction and their products can be removed from tile surface and interact with molecules transported by the air flow, or inks can simply evaporate to the chimney.

In this paper, we present first results of our study on the characterization of gaseous emissions from a set of commercial inks and vehicles, submitted, in Lab., to a slow or industrial-like fast firing. This study is part of a wider research that is collecting data on thermal behavior, chemical characterization and, of course, potentially polluting emissions of inks and common vehicles, to improve knowledge and comprehension of these materials.

Materials and methodsSamples and analytical procedure

We collected 55 inks (named I1, I2, …, I55) and 8 common vehicles (named as in Table 1) from inks suppliers in the ceramic district of Sassuolo (Modena, Italy). For the most of inks, no information was given about their composition. Vehicles are commercial products, with potentially low degree of purity.

Table 1.

Sampled vehicles.

Vehicles  Samples 
Isoparaffin oil  PRF1 
n-Paraffin oil  PRF2 
Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether  TPnB 
2-Ethylhexyl stearate  2-EHS 
Ethylhexyl cocoate  EHC 
Caprylic/capric triglyceride  CCT 
2-Ethylhexyl laurate  2-EHL 
Tripropylene glycol methyl ether  TPM 

Each sample was first characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), in order to understand at least the class of the main organic compounds and their thermal behavior. The description of FTIR and TG-DTA procedures, as well as results of these two preliminary steps for vehicles and for the first 39 inks, have already been published [12].

Then, to study polluting products, samples have been fired in an electric tubular kiln and their gaseous emissions have been collected by Tenax TA tubes and analyzed in a GC–MS equipment.

Vehicles have been also characterized by direct injection in GC–MS to verify their purity, but results will not be discussed in detail in this paper.

Sampling of emissions

A known quantity of sample (10mg of ink, or 5mg of vehicle) was loaded in a quartz holder and inserted in an electric tubular kiln (Carbolite STF 15/50/450), equipped with a Quartz tube of internal diameter of 1cm. Then, samples were heated with the following temperature program: from ambient temperature to 800°C in 15min, dwell at 800°C for 10min.

During the whole heating program, air was pumped through the kiln to a flow splitter with 4 exits, at the end of the kiln tube. Each exit can be equipped with a sampling tube or used as flow regulator. Each flow of air through tubes can be adjusted separately, for a total air flow of 1l/min.

For the first qualitative screening of VOCs, Tenax TA (Supelco 60/80, glass tube, ¼in. OD×4mm ID×7in.) has been selected to collect air samples, because of its property and affinity to a wide range of VOCs [13–16]. Air through Tenax tube was set to 200ml/min. Tenax tubes were immediately analyzed with the next steps, or stored in closed boxes, avoiding light interaction, until their analysis.

Desorption and GC–MS analysis

One of the most useful characteristic of Tenax is its desorption procedure. After sampling, tubes were desorbed in a thermal desorption system (TDS), molecules were cryo-focused at −140°C with a cooled injection system (CIS) and, then, were sent to a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer. Desorption and separation parameters have been selected on the basis of literature [16–18] and previous tests.

TDS starting temperature was set at 40°C, after 0.50min temperature was raised to 270°C at 60°C/min and maintained for 10min. Desorption was carried on with helium at 40ml/min, in splitless mode.

CIS was kept at −140°C with liquid nitrogen for all the desorption step, then temperature was rapidly raised to 280°C at 12°C/s and maintained for 2min.

Inlet was set to solvent vent mode, purged at 900ml/min after 0.40min and kept at 250°C.

Desorbed molecules were then directed to the GC–MS (Agilent 6890N), equipped with a Restek RXi-1MS column (60m×250μm×1μm). Oven initial temperature was kept at 35°C for 4min, then raised to 150°C at 3°C/min, and finally to 270°C at 8°C/min. The final temperature was maintained for 20min. Carrier gas was helium at 1ml/min.

MS operated in scan mode, in the range 15–450 m/z.

Results and discussion

For the extensive results of FTIR and TG-DTA, we refer to our previous paper [12]. On the basis of FTIR data, we divided our samples in 6 general groups, depending on the main classes of compounds identified and on the comparison to vehicles data. This classification has been revised and corrected after the emissions study and the new inks samples have been added (Table 2).

Table 2.

Classification of inks by FTIR and comparison with vehicles.

Main vehicle class  Inks 
Esters  I1, I3, I4, I5, I6, I8, I11, I12, I13, I14, I16, I18, I19, I20, I21, I22, I26, I27, I28, I29, I30, I31, I32, I33, I34, I35, I36, I37, I38, I39, I43, I44, I51, I53 
Glycols  I23, I41, I42, I52 
Paraffins  I2, I7, I10, I15 
Glycols+esters  I9, I50, I54, I55 
Paraffins+esters  I24, I25 
Water+glycols  I17, I40, I45, I46, I47, I48, I49 
GC–MSEmissions of vehicles

Referring to the emissions of vehicles, all the identified compounds are listed in Table 3.

Table 3.

Identified compounds in vehicles emissions.

Compounds  2-EHS  EHC  CCT  2-EHL  EHP  TPM  TPnB  PRF1  PRF2 
Aldehydes
Butanal             
Pentanal         
Hexanal       
Heptanal           
Hexanal, 2-ethyl-             
2-Hexanal, 2-ethyl-                 
Octanal         
Nonanal           
Decanal             
Undecanal                 
Dodecanal                 
Tridecanal               
2-decenal, (E)-                 
Ketones
2-Pentanone               
2-Hexanone               
3-Hexanone, 5-methyl-                 
2-Heptanone                 
3-Heptanone                 
2-Octanone           
2-Nonanone           
2-Decanone             
2-Undecanone               
2-Dodecanone               
2-Tridecanone                 
Glycols and glycol ethers
Tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (isomers)           
2-Propanol, 1-[1-methyl-2-(2-propenyloxy)ethoxy]-                 
Ethanol, 2-(1,1-dimethylethoxy)-                 
Hexaethylene glycol dimethyl ether                 
Tri(1,2-propyleneglycol), monomethyl ether                 
Propylene glycol monobutyl ether                 
Dipropylene glycol (isomers)                 
Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether           
Organic acids
Octanoic acid                 
Nonanoic acid             
n-Decanoic acid               
Undecanoic acid                 
Dodecanoic acid               
n-Hexadecanoic acid                 
Alcohols
1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl-           
Propanoic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-                 
Dioxolanes
1,3-Dioxolane, 2-ethyl-4-methyl-                 
Linear alkanes
Hexane           
Heptane           
Octane               
Nonane               
Decane               
Undecane                 
Dodecane             
Tridecane                 
Tetradecane           
Pentadecane           
Hexadecane               
Heptadecane               
Octadecane                 
Nonadecane                 
Eicosane                 
Branched alkanes
Heptane, 3-methyl-                 
Nonane, 2-methyl-5-propyl-                 
Dodecane, 3-methyl-                 
Dodecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl-               
Dodecane, 2,7,10-trimethyl-                 
Dodecane, 2,2,11,11-tetramethyl-                 
Tetradecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl-                 
Pentadecane, 2-methyl-                 
Pentadecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl-                 
Pentadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-                 
Hexadecane, 2-methyl-                 
Hexadecane, 3-methyl-                 
Hexadecane, 4-methyl-                 
Hexadecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl-                 
Hexadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-               
Heptadecane, 2-methyl-                 
Heptadecane, 4-methyl-                 
Heptadecane, 2,3-dimethyl-                 
Octadecane, 3-methyl-                 
Nonadecane, 9-methyl-                 
Cyclic alkanes
Cyclohexane                 
Lactones
Butyrolactone                 
γ-Heptalactone                 
γ-Octalactone                 
δ-Octalactone                 
γ-Decalactone                 
δ-Decalactone                 
γ-Undecalactone                 
Alkenes
Heptane, 3-methylene-           
1-Nonadecene                 
Fatty acids esters
Acetic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester                 
n-Butyric acid 2-ethylhexyl ester               
Pentanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester               
Hexanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester               
Octanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester           
Decanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester               
Lauric acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester         
Myristic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester               
Palmitic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester                 
Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester                 
Octanoic acid, methyl ester                 
Decanoic acid, methyl ester                 
Octanoic acid, 2-propenyl ester                 
Butyl formate                 
Butyl caprate                 
Butyl caprylate                 
Butyl palmitate                 
n-Capric acid isopropyl ester                 
Myristic acid, isopropyl (o 1-methylethyl) ester                 
Palmitic acid, isopropyl (o 1-methylethyl) ester                 
Stearic acid, isopropyl (o 1-methylethyl) ester                 
Lauric acid, 1-methylethyl ester         
Elaidic acid, 1-methylethyl ester (o isopropyl)                 
Heptanoic acid, 4-octyl ester                 
Propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-propanediyl ester               
Glycerol tricaprylate                 

According to their thermal behavior, PRF1 and PRF2 are characterized mainly by evaporation products. Unfortunately, hydrocarbons peaks are often not well separable, so, especially in PRF1 the univocal identification of peaks has been difficult and, for most of the peaks, impossible. Anyway, the MS pattern of some branched alkanes can be recognized between principal compounds, among which 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-pentadecane is identifiable, for example.

PRF2 emissions are characterized by the same mixture of linear and branched alkanes (with chains from C12 to C20) found by direct injection.

In TPM emissions, we can recognize evaporation products as well (tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether), with some impurities, due to the not high purity of the commercial product and to residues in the GC column.

TPnB emissions seems to confirm the thermal behavior recognized by TG-DTA, with a weak exothermic peak after the main endothermic phenomenon. Its main emission is tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, indeed, but some decomposition compounds as dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether or unsaturated glycols are present [19–21].

Same considerations can be done for 2-EHL. The analysis of the liquid vehicle revealed that the main compound was not 2-ethylhexyl laurate, as it has been claimed, but 1-methylethyl laurate (1-MEL). The same ester is the main emission product, due to evaporation. Secondary components, as lauric acid, comes from the decomposition of 1-MEL, while 1-methylethyl esters of heavier fatty acids (C14–C18) could be impurities.

EHC is a mixture of 2-ethylhexyl esters of C8, C10, C12, C14, C16 fatty acids, that are present as evaporation products in EHC emissions. The fast firing of EHC causes also the decomposition of some molecules into aldehydes (pentanal, hexanal, octanal, nonanal), 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and other light compounds.

Sample 2-EHS has been revealed to be not pure 2-ethylhexyl stearate, but a mix of this ester with 2-ethylhexyl palmitate. The chromatogram of 2-EHS emissions highlights the predominance of decomposition phenomena (identified as exothermic events by TG-DTA) that 2-EHS meets with. The most abundant compound is 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, from the cracking of 2-ethylhexyl esters. Various aldehydes, organic acids, ketones and hydrocarbons complete the emission chart, underlining the uncomplete combustion of 2-EHS due to the removal of intermediate products from the reaction site by the air flow [22].

CCT is composed mainly of glycerol tricaprylate. We found it also in CCT emissions, but just as minor component. In fact, the chromatogram of CCT emissions presents numerous substances, coming from the exothermic decomposition of glycerol tricaprylate. Among these, aldehydes, ketones, fatty acids esters (especially, different esters of octanoic acid, not always perfectly identifiable), some glycol ethers, and lactones. Some studies, for example, have demonstrated that lactones form spontaneously from triglycerides, from the hydroxy-fatty acids liberated by heating [23]. Selke et al. identified the same classes of compounds as products of the thermal oxidation of tristearin [24] and triolein [25].

Emissions of inks

Glycol based inks (4/55), like I23 (Fig. 1), are characterized mostly by evaporation products, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether and tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether above all. We found also few aldehydes and dioxolanes, as well as some lighter glycol ethers, deriving from the decomposition of the main components. I23 DTA shows two events, indeed. The first one, endothermic, could be the evaporation of glycols; the second one, exothermic, could confirm the decomposition of evaporation products. In Table 4 all the identified compound in I23 emission are reported.

Fig. 1.

I23 chromatogram – (1) 1,1′-[(1-methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)bis(oxy)]bis-2-propanol, (2) tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, (3) 1-methylethyl laurate, (4) and (5) ? = unidentified compound.

(0,06MB).
Table 4.

Identified compounds in I23 emissions.

RT (min)  Compound 
15.218  1,3-Dioxane, 2-methyl- 
15.795  1,3-Dioxolane, 2,2-dimethyl- 
17.422  Formic acid, butyl ester 
21.741  Hexanal 
23.228  2-Propanone, 1-(acetyloxy)- 
24.609  1-Methoxy-2-propyl acetate 
25.935  1-Methoxy-2-propyl acetate 
27.080  Heptanal 
30.229 
33.654  Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether 
33.865  Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether 
34.503  Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether 
34.854  Dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether 
36.471  Isobutyl ether 
46.500  Dipropylene glycol 
46.641  Dipropylene glycol 
53.371  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.632  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.732  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.813  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
55.520  Dodecanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester 
63.947  Glycol (?) 
72.811  Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester 

Water+glycol based inks (7/55), of which I49 is an example (Fig. 2), release less quantity of substances, being equal the weight in comparison with another type of ink. Their chromatograms display the evaporation products from the glycol part, which of course depend on the chosen glycol. I49, for instance, seems to be a mix of triethylene, tetraethylene and pentaethylene glycols, to which a fraction of esters is added. In the first part of the chromatogram, there are some weak peaks recognized as dioxolanes, therefore the same considerations already done for I23 are valid for I49 too. Table 5 shows the characterization of I49 emissions.

Fig. 2.

I49 chromatogram – (1) diethylene glycol, (2) triethylene glycol, (3) tetraethylene glycol, (4) butylated hydroxytoluene, (5) 1-methylethyl laurate, (6) pentaethylene glycol, (7) 2-ethylhexyl ester laurate and (8) 2-ethylhexyl ester laurate.

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Table 5.

Identified compounds in I49 emissions.

RT (min)  Compound 
5.304  Water 
11.200  1,3-Dioxolane 
13.148  1,3-Dioxolane, 2-methyl- 
16.192  1,4-Dioxolane 
26.251 
29.475 
30.555  Diethylene glycol 
35.105  1,3-Dioxan-5-ol 
43.125  Octanoic acid 
45.059  Triethylene glycol 
45.224  Triethylene glycol 
48.268  Triethylene glycol 
52.843  Tetraethylene glycol 
53.692  Butylated hydroxytoluene 
53.792 
55.515  Dodecanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester 
57.659  Pentaethylene glycol 
58.342  1-Decanol, 2-hexyl- 
58.915  Heptaethylene glycol 
63.942  Lauric acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
64.148  Fatty acid ester? 
68.828  Octadecanoic acid, octylester 

Also paraffin based inks (4/55), as I2 (Fig. 3) show mainly compounds coming from evaporation, confirming the behavior registered for PRF1 and PRF2. Their emissions are characterized by C14–C20 alkanes, linear or branched. All the inks of this group are also characterized by the presence of some light aldehydes and carboxylic acids (octanoic acid, above all), which may derive from a hybrid formulation between paraffins and one or more esters, as minor components (see Table 6 for details). I2 thermal behavior show one principal weight loss connected to an endothermic event, according to paraffins behavior.

Fig. 3.

I2 chromatogram – (1) pentadecane, (2) butylated hydroxytoluene, (3) 2-methyl-pentadecane, (4) hexadecane, (5) 2,6,10-trimethyl-pentadecane, (6) ?, (7) 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-hexadecane, (8) octadecane, (9) 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-hexadecane, (10) ?, (11) eicosane and (12) 1,2-diethyl-cyclohexadecane.

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Table 6.

Identified compounds in I2 emissions.

RT (min)  Compound 
15.514  Pentanal 
21.785  Hexanal 
27.163  Heptanal 
28.207  Heptanal 
33.976  Octanal 
35.106  2H-pyran-2-one, tetrahydro- 
37.135  2-Octenal, (E)- 
37.893  Heptanoic acid 
40.012  Nonanal 
42.914  2-Nonenal, (E)- 
43.185  Octanoic Acid 
45.138  Decanal 
46.514  Dipropylene glycol 
46.654  1-Propanol, 2-(2-hydroxypropoxy)- 
47.142  2-Decenal, (E)- 
48.939  Tridecane 
49.928  n-Decanoic acid 
50.159  2-Tridecenal, (E)- 
53.558  Pentadecane 
53.719  Butylated hydroxytoluene 
54.558  Tridecane, 5-methyl- 
54.658  Pentadecane, 4-methyl- 
54.753  Pentadecane, 2-methyl- 
54.899  Tetradecane 
55.381  Hexadecane 
56.250  Pentadecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl- 
56.350  Hexadecane, 4-methyl- 
56.431  Hexadecane, 2-methyl- 
56.566  Hexadecane, 3-methyl- 
56.998  Heptadecane 
57.164  Hexadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl- 
57.887  Heptadecane, 2-methyl- 
57.967  Heptadecane, 2-methyl- 
58.524  Octadecane 
58.660  Isopropyl myristate 
58.775  Hexadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl- 
59.564 
60.146  Eicosane 
60.879  Nonadecane, 9-methyl 
61.979  Linear alkane 
64.193 
66.498  Cyclohexadecane, 1,2-diethyl- 

Emissions of ester based inks (34/55), as well as their thermal behavior, depend on the nature of the ester or of the ester mixture.

I33 (Fig. 4) is a good example for 2-ethylhexyl esters mixtures, as main vehicle fraction. In its chromatogram, 2-ethylhexyl laurate, myristate, decanoate and octanoate represent the main peaks, underlining evaporation phenomena. Together, we found few aldehydes and alcohols (especially 2-ethyl-1-hexanol) from the decomposition of these esters, potentially correlated to the exothermic event seen in DTA graph.

Fig. 4.

I33 chromatogram – (1) 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, (2) ?, (3) 2-ethylhexyl octanoate, (4) 2-hexyl-1-decanol, (5) 2-ethylhexyl decanoate, (6) ?, (7) 2-ethylhexyl ester laurate, (8) 1-eicosene and (9) 2-ethylhexyl myristate.

(0,06MB).

I53 emissions are characterized mainly by 1-methylethyl laurate (Fig. 5), mixed with a 2-ethylhexyl esters mix, as made clear by the presence of 2-ethylhexyl laurate, decanoate, myristate and octanoate. Compared to I33, the principal weight loss is linked more to the first endothermic event, rather than to the second exothermic one, according to the behavior of 1-methylethyl laurate. Some decomposition products are observed as well (aldehydes, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, etc.), together with a quite small portion of glycols. Tables 7 and 8 report the entire results of I33 and I53 analyses.

Fig. 5.

I53 chromatogram – (1) 1-methylethyl laurate, (2) 2-ethylhexyl octanoate, (3) 2-ethylhexyl decanoate, (4) 2-ethylhexyl laurate and (5) 2-ethylhexyl myristate.

(0,05MB).
Table 7.

Identified compounds in I33 emissions.

RT (min)  Compound 
15.464  Pentanal 
21.732  Hexanal 
27.080  Heptanal 
33.649  2-Propanol, 1-(2-methoxy-1-methylethoxy)- 
33.895  Octanal 
34.493  2-Propanol, 1-(2-methoxypropoxy)- 
35.849  1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl- 
36.100  1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl- 
39.947  Nonanal 
42.850  2-Nonenal, (E)- 
45.085  Decanal 
48.600  Undecanal 
53.522  Pentadecane 
55.249 
56.897  Octanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
58.343  1-Decanol, 2-hexyl- 
60.030  Decanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
62.140 
64.118  Lauric acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
66.474  1-Eicosene 
69.768  Myristic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
Table 8.

Identified compounds in I53 emissions.

RT (min)  Compound 
15.473  Pentanal 
21.746  Hexanal 
27.064  Heptanal 
35.823  1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl- 
42.854  2-Nonenal 
46.470  Tripropylene glycol 
46.610  Tripropylene glycol 
51.723  n-Capric acid isopropyl ester 
53.536  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.626  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.712  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.802  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
55.590  Lauric acid, 1-methylethyl ester 
55.635  Lauric acid, 1-methylethyl ester 
56.911  Octanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
57.117 
58.643  Isopropyl Myristate 
60.045  Decanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
64.057  Lauric acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
69.707  Myristic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 

Emissions of glycol+ester based inks (4/55) show the characteristic emissions of both the fractions. Glycols produce evaporation products (as described for I23). Emissions from the ester fraction depend on the nature of the ester itself. In I50 (Fig. 6), for example, we found 2-ethylhexyl laurate as major component, with aldehydes and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, coming from the decomposition of a portion of the ester part. The thermal behavior of this ink in DTA is described by an endothermic event, at temperatures comparable to TPnB evaporation, followed by an exothermic phenomenon, probably linked to the decomposition of the ester. Two weight losses are clearly visible and linkable to these two events, one for each. Table 9 displays all the recognized molecules.

Fig. 6.

I50 chromatogram – (1) tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, (2) 2-ethylhexyl laurate and (3) 2-ethylhexyl myristate.

(0,05MB).
Table 9.

Identified compounds in I50 emissions.

RT (min)  Compound 
15.463  Pentanal 
21.749  Hexanal 
22.457  1-Octene 
27.127  Heptanal 
28.176  Heptanal 
33.197  2-Octanone 
35.853  1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl 
42.893  2-Nonenal 
46.488  Tripropylene glycol 
46.628  Tripropylene glycol 
49.109 
51.484  2,4-Undecadienal- 
53.392  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.658  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.758  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
53.849  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether 
60.040  Decanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
64.147  Lauric acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
69.680  Myristic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 

The pattern of emissions of paraffin+ester inks (2/55) is well represented by I24 (Fig. 7). Its emissions (Table 10) are characterized by evaporation products from the paraffin (linear and branched alkanes), aldehydes and 2-ethylhexanol from the decomposition of part of the ester fraction, 2-ethylhexyl decanoate, laurate and myristate, and isopropyl palmitate from the evaporation of part of the ester mix. As for I50, DTA proposes two events, the first endothermic, the second exothermic, but it seems that just one major weight loss is present and principally connected to the endothermic reaction. This could be the sum of paraffin and ester evaporation, the products of which then go through a combustion process.

Fig. 7.

I24 chromatogram – (1) hexadecane, (2) heptadecane, (3) octadecane, (4) 2-ethylhexyl decanoate, (5) isopropyl palmitate, (6) 2-ethylhexyl ester laurate, (7) 1,2-diethyl-cyclohexadecane and (8) 2-ethylhexyl myristate.

(0,06MB).
Table 10.

Identified compounds in I24 emission.

RT (min)  Compound 
10.241  Butanal 
15.459  Pentanal 
21.726  Hexanal 
27.090  Heptanal 
32.318  4-Heptanone, 2,6-dimethyl- 
35.839  1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl- 
51.262  Dodecanal 
53.522  Pentadecane 
53.612  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether? 
53.702  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether? 
53.793  Tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether? 
54.621  Pentadecane, 4-methyl- 
54.722  Pentadecane, 2-methyl- 
54.862  Pentadecane, 3-methyl- 
55.239 
55.340  Hexadecane 
56.213  Pentadecane, 2,6,10-trimethyl- 
56.314  Hexadecane, 4-methyl- 
56.399  Hexadecane, 2-methyl- 
56.535  Hexadecane, 3-methyl- 
56.896  Octanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
56.957  Heptadecane 
57.132  Pentadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl- 
57.851  Heptadecane, 4-methyl- 
57.931  Heptadecane, 2-methyl- 
58.067  Heptadecane, 3-methyl- 
58.483  Octadecane 
58.624  Isopropyl myristate 
58.740  Pentadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl- 
60.015  Decanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
60.106  Nonadecane 
62.155  Isopropyl palmitate 
63.988  Lauric acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
66.474  Cyclohexadecane, 1,2-diethyl- 
69.638  Myristic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester 
Conclusions

To resume the obtained results, the most utilized vehicles for the production of ceramic inks can be divided in 3 groups, considering their thermal behaviors and, consequently, their emissions:

  • -

    Vehicles with evaporating behavior: paraffins and TPM.

  • -

    Vehicles with hybrid behavior: TPnB, 2-EHL (or, more precisely, 1-MEL), EHC.

  • -

    Vehicles with decomposing behavior: 2-EHS and CCT.

Among the decomposition products, esters release aldehydes (from butanal to tridecanal), ketones (from 2-pentanone to 2-tridecanone), carboxylic acids (from octanoic to hexadecanoic acid), alcohols (most of all 2-ethyl-1-hexanol), alkanes, lactones (found only in CCT), fatty acids esters.

TPnB can decompose into some aldehydes and, above all, minor ethers and 2-ethyl-4-methyl-1,3-dioxolane.

Inks, whether they are based on mixtures or nearly pure vehicles, follow the thermal behavior and the emissions pattern of their single components. The set of commercial inks analyzed underline how fatty acids esters are quite common, used as single vehicle or in mixtures with glycols or paraffins. Considering that every analyzed sample of ester-based vehicle seems to meet with a total exothermic reaction or, at least, with a partial one, decomposition products of esters characterize the majority of inks samples.

Moreover, it seems that EHC is the most common ester used for ester based inks. Its hybrid thermal behavior leads to the presence of both evaporation (2-ethylhexyl laurate, myristate, decanoate and octanoate) and decomposition products (aldehydes – pentanal, hexanal, octanal, nonanal – 2-ethyl-1-hexanol).

These results should clearly be implemented by experimentations at real chimneys or by firing in combustion ovens, because the different nature of the industrial ovens could change somehow the actual behavior of inks.

Anyway, assuming the configuration of industrial ceramic kilns, the huge air flow causes the removal of decomposition and evaporation products, conducting them to chimneys, where they can exit into the atmosphere, if they are not able to react completely or to be retained by specific systems.

Among the emission products, the specialized legislation on ceramic industry in Italy puts attention to quantification of aldehydes, so future steps of this study could imply their quantification.

This first characterization is just the initial step to investigate the entire problem. On the basis of these data, we are carrying on comparative studies between emissions of inks alone, collected in laboratory, and emissions of the same inks applied to ceramic tiles, gathered both in laboratory and at a ceramic chimney, to understand the real influence of inks on total emissions.

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