Can clorox remove ink

AFTER you've done your research and concluded your experiments, it is time to prepare for the science fair. Ask specific questions about preparing for a science fair, including how to set up your display board, how to prepare a presentation, etc. (Please post questions about selecting a project or conducting your experiment by posting in the appropriate "area of science" forum.)

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Terrance
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:24 pm
Occupation: Student
Project Question: Will clorox bleach remove the ink from the news paper
Project Due Date: 1-11-10
Project Status: I am conducting my research

Can clorox remove ink

Post by Terrance »

If I pour clorox on some news paper will it remove the ink
barretttomlinson
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Posts: 932
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:24 am

Re: Can clorox remove ink

Post by barretttomlinson »

Hi:

Here is paper that discusses bleaching paper among other things using chlorine and hydrogen peroxide based bleaches:

http://portal.acs.org/preview/fileFetch ... 005623.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleaching_of_wood_pulp

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles10/pa ... ng-9.shtml

So the answer is yes, Clorox should bleach paper, but the reaction can take take more than five hours at rather warm temperatures. Hypochlorite was the original bleach used in paper making, but today is less frequently used. Instead chlorine, chlorine dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide are preferred in most circumstances.

So while you could use hypochlorite (Clorox) to beach paper, you would probably not be very satisfied. The reaction s will be slow and require the bleaching solution to be heated, and not all colorants in the paper may be destroyed..

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Barrett L. Tomlinson
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