Engineers Discover Method Of Removing Toner From Paper

Engineers have discovered a way of using lasers to remove printer toner from paper, enabling potential re-use opportunities for companies and consumers.

By using short pulses of laser light to delete words and images, specialists at the University of Cambridge have been able to remove toner ink without causing any damage to paper in the process, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Speaking to the newspaper, Dr Julian Allwood, who led the research team, said: "The process works on a wide range of toner cartridges. It does not damage the paper so the feasibility for reusing paper in the office is there."

Dr Allwood predicted that the cost of building a prototype "unprinter" would currently be £19,000, though he expects this sum to fall as technology evolves.

While the new technology could take a while to be introduced at commercial level, there are other ways that companies can make savings on their ink and paper use.

For example, it is advisable for workers to check the length of their document before it is printed, as doing this will ensure that they are only using the number of pages necessary.

Posted by Barry Ashmore.