Their goals were clear:
- Improve IPA reuse to reduce solvent purchasing, waste reduction and disposal needs
- Evaluate the effectiveness of SolvTrue™ in recovering high-quality solvent
- Maintain cleaning performance with high-concentration IPA and workflow continuity
- Support sustainability and cost-efficiency efforts internally and for customers
What they tested
CBG Biotech ran a sample of used IPA from the manufacturer’s SLA cleaning process through the SolvTrue™ S700 using standard IPA settings and a long-draw cycle. The full run took about 3.5 hours and simulated normal internal use conditions.
Setup highlights:
- Solvent: Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)
- Contaminants: 3D printer resin and test materials
- Equipment: SolvTrue™ S700 (220V), tank liner, mist deflector
- Total waste processed: 4 containers, ~14.2 kg
Key results:
- Input waste weight: 29.6 lb.
- Recovered IPA: 27.2 lb.
- Waste remaining: 1.6 lb.
- Net recovery rate: 96.2%
- Recovery rate per hour: ~0.8 gal/hr.
- Estimated concentration: ~99% IPA
Visual results from the solvent recovery test
The following photographs illustrate key stages of the IPA recovery process using the SolvTrue™ S700 system: The recovered solvent met internal standards for reuse—supporting leaner, cleaner operations without sacrificing performance.
Figure 1: Waste IPA prior to processing — collected from additive manufacturing cleaning operations. The mixture exhibits a dark color and heavy solids typical of used IPA.
Figure 2: Still bottoms post-distillation — solid residue shows minimal remaining solvent, indicating effective recovery.
Figure 3: Recovered IPA — a clear, colorless liquid with the characteristic IPA odor, consistent with high-quality solvent ready for reuse.
Conclusion
The SolvTrue™ S700 delivered a *96% recovery rate and a reclaimed IPA concentration of approximately 99%. The results confirmed that solvent could be recovered efficiently at high concentration levels, meeting internal standards and demonstrating feasibility for customers.
The successful test validated SolvTrue™ as a practical solution for supporting leaner, more sustainable additive manufacturing operations.
Download the Full Case Study
Want full results, data, and testing details? View and download the complete case study PDF.
*Typical recovery rate of up to 95% of usable solvent.
Questions?
If you have questions about this report or want to discuss its findings, reach out to CBG Biotech. Our team can help determine if a recycling solution is the right fit for your operations.
