With the diverse application of digital printing technologies in the ceramic industry, solvent-based inks have become highly preferred. Solvent-based inkjet dyes offer advantages due to their rapid drying characteristics; however, they also raise some environmental concerns. The use of recycled solvent-based brown inkjet dye pigments in ceramic tile production was examined. The objective is to investigate the recyclability of the residual pigments accumulated during the manufacturing processes. Recycling solvent-based brown inkjet dye pigments and incorporating them into ceramic tile production hold significant potential for reducing environmental pollution and achieving economic savings. Utilizing factory waste can reduce raw material costs and provide savings in waste management expenses. Consequently, this study presents new opportunities for sustainable production and waste management in the ceramic industry. During the experimental studies, brown inkjet dye pigments used in ceramic tile production were processed using different solvents and subjected to various tests. The solvents used include synthetic thinner, cellulosic thinner, water, gasoline and diesel fuel. The solvent-based pigment residue remaining in the brown inkjet paint barrels was subjected to heat treatment on a thin steel tray, and the resulting layer was scraped off using a spatula. Thus, brown pigment powders were obtained. To homogenize the grain sizes, these pigments were subjected to a dry-rotation process in the mill for three minutes and were then sieved through a 125-micron mesh. To use the sieved brown pigment powders, masse granules used in the ceramic tile industry were pressed into 10x5 cm dimensions to form test plates. The brown pigment powders were applied on these test plates and tested at 1200°C. The experiments revealed that pigments processed with gasoline and cellulosic thinner displayed a more homogenous distribution and less agglomeration. On the other hand, tests performed using other solvents resulted in more uneven color distribution and greater agglomeration. These results indicate that different solvents exhibit significant differences in their capacity to preserve the structural integrity of pigments. Furthermore, it was observed that after heat treatment at high temperatures, recycled pigments displayed positive results in terms of color stability and durability. Moreover, the experimental studies offer valuable information for examining the impacts of different solvents on brown dye pigments, understanding the characteristics of dyes used in the ceramic industry and utilizing them more efficiently. This study supports sustainability efforts in the industry by contributing to the optimization of material consumption in the ceramic industry and reducing environmental impacts.

Brown solvent-based inkjet paint, Pigment, Ceramic tile industry, Mass, Solvents, Upcycling.