2025 AIChE Annual Meeting

Conductive Inks from Agro-Industrial Waste for Electronic Applications

Conductive inks are crucial compounds for the fabrication of electronic components. Most of these inks are derived from non-renewable resources and energy sources. The four main components in their formulation are conductive fillers, polymer binders, solvents, and additives. Due to increasing environmental concerns, research into more eco-friendly solutions for developing conductive inks has accelerated in order to minimize the electronic waste generated during the manufacturing process. By utilizing agro-industrial waste in Ecuador, hydrochar can be produced and used as a carbon-based filler, and cellulose can be synthesized to serve as a polymer binder for ink production. In this approach, additives may include a metal to enhance the ink’s conductivity. Based on the results obtained, this alternative demonstrates potential as a viable solution to reduce the waste generated by the electronics industry.