Toner for electrostatic latent image development, electrostatic latent image developer containing the toner, and image formation method using the developer

1. A toner for electrostatic latent image development, comprising a binder resin, a colorant and an iron ion reducing agent, wherein [Fe]/[C] satisfies the following formula (1):

0.00005≦[Fe]/[C]≦0.0002  (1)

where [C] indicates a content of carbon and [Fe] indicates a content of iron in the toner determined through X-ray fluorescence analysis.

2. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the iron is divalent.

3. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner has a volume-average particle size of from 2 to 10 μm.

4. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner has GSDp of at most 1.23, which is a square root of a ratio ofD84p/D16p represented by the following formula:

GSDp ={( D 84 p )/( D 16 p )} 0.5

where D16p indicates a diameter of 16% particles, and D84p indicates a diameter of 84% particles both counted from smallest particles.

5. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner has a SF1 of from 110 to 140.

6. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner comprises the colorant in an amount of from 4% to 15% by weight relative to a total weight of a solid content of the toner.

7. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner comprises a lubricant in an amount of from 1 to 20% by weight relative to a total amount of the toner particles.

8. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the iron ion reducing agent is a divalent iron compound.

9. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the iron ion reducing agent is a water soluble divalent iron compound.

10. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the iron ion reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of iron(II) chloride, iron(II) bromide, iron(II) nitrate, iron(II) bicarbonate, iron(II) acetate, and iron(II) oxalate.

11. An electrostatic latent image developer comprising a binder resin, a colorant and an iron ion reducing agent, wherein [Fe]/[C] satisfies the following formula (1):

0.00005≦[Fe]/[C]≦0.0002  (1)

where [C] indicates a content of carbon and [Fe] indicates a content of iron in the toner determined through X-ray fluorescence analysis.

12. The electrostatic latent image developer according to claim 11 , wherein the toner comprises a carrier, core of the carrier having a mean particle size of from 3 times to 10 times as large as a mean particle size of the toner particles.

13. The electrostatic latent image developer according to claim 11 , wherein the carrier comprises a coating resin.

14. An image formation method, comprising:

charging a photoreceptor;

exposing the charged photoreceptor to light to form a latent image on the photoreceptor;

developing the latent image with an electrostatic latent image developer to form a developed image, the developer comprising a binder resin, a colorant and an iron ion reducing agent, wherein [Fe]/[C] satisfies the following formula (1):

0.00005≦[Fe]/[C]≦0.0002  (1)

where [C] indicates a content of carbon and [Fe] indicates a content of iron in the toner determined through X-ray fluorescence analysis;

transferring the developed image onto a transfer object; and

heating and fixing the developed image on a fixation substrate.

15. The image formation method according to claim 14 , wherein the photoreceptor is charged on contact electrification system.

16. The image formation method according to claim 14 , wherein the developed image is transferred onto the transfer object by using one of an intermediate drum and an intermediate transfer belt.

17. The image formation method according to claim 14 , wherein the developed image is transferred onto the transfer object by using one of an intermediate drum and an intermediate transfer belt.

18. The image formation method according to claim 14 , wherein a fixation member used at the time of heating and fixing the developed image on the fixation substrate has a shape of a roll or a belt, at least one side of the fixation member being provided with a heating unit.