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By: Kunal Rohidas Badgujar and Nilesh Prakash Badgujar.
Student, Department of Chemical Technology, UPL University of Sustainable Technology, Ankleshwar, Gujarat, India
Professor & Head, Department of Chemical Technology, UPL University of Sustainable Technology, Ankleshwar, Gujarat, India
Copper phthalocyanine pigments, particularly PB15:3 (beta-phase), represent cornerstone materials in the global colorants industry with applications spanning automotive coatings, printing inks, and engineering plastics. Conventional synthesis routes for PB15:3 necessitate copious volumes of high-boiling organic solvents – predominantly dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) and aromatic hydrocarbons – posing significant environmental burdens and economic constraints. This study presents a systematic investigation of solvent quantity optimization in the pigment finishing process of CI Pigment Blue 15:3, conducted at Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd. industrial facilities. Through controlled experimental trials examining three distinct solvent-to-feed ratios (1:10, 1:2, and 1:3 relative to standard process), we demonstrate that reducing solvent consumption by 70–80% is achievable without compromising critical coloristic properties. The optimized formulation (1:2 ratio) yielded superior technical performance with ΔE* = 1.13, ΔL* = –0.05, and %strength = 97.69, representing a 21.5% improvement in color difference relative to conventional practice while achieving substantial reduction in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Process mass intensity (PMI) analysis revealed a 42% reduction in solvent waste generation per kilogram of finished pigment. These findings establish a commercially viable pathway toward sustainable phthalocyanine pigment manufacturing, addressing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). This work represents the first industrially validated solvent reduction protocol for PB15:3 pigment finishing with direct scalability to existing production infrastructure.
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