Calcium Ligno Sulfonate, Calcium Lignine Sulfonate, 8061-52-7

Calcium Ligno Sulfonate, Calcium Lignine Sulfonate, 8061-52-7

Calcium Lignosulfonate 

1. Product Identity

2. Synonyms and Identifiers

3. Physicochemical Properties

4. Chemical Structure and Properties

Calcium lignosulfonate is a multi-component polymer anionic surfactant. It is derived from lignin, which is the second most abundant natural polymer with an aromatic structure in nature.

• Molecular Weight Range: Generally between 800 and 10,000 Daltons (average relative molecular mass is approximately 20,000).

• Structural Units: It is composed of phenylpropane derivatives connected by C-O and C-C bonds.

• Functional Groups: Contains a large number of active functional groups including:

  • Phenolic hydroxyl

  • Methoxy

  • Benzyl hydroxyl

  • Carbonyl

  • Carboxyl

  • Vinyl

  • Sulfonate groups

• Surface Activity: It is an anionic surface-active substance with strong dispersing, binding (cohesive), and chelating properties.

• Supramolecular Characteristics: Has a high specific surface area.

5. Production and Manufacturing Process

Calcium lignosulfonate is produced from waste liquor generated during wood pulp processing, specifically from the sulfite pulping process.

Raw Material: Waste liquor from sulfite wood pulp production.

Production Steps:

1. Neutralization: The waste liquor is neutralized with milk of lime (calcium hydroxide suspension).

2. Sugar Removal (Optional): Biological fermentation is used to remove sugars from the mixture.

3. Concentration: The solution is concentrated by evaporation until the solid content reaches approximately 50%.

4. Drying: The concentrated liquid is spray-dried to obtain the final brown-yellow powder.

Alternative Production Methods:

• Sulfite Pulp Process: Wood chips are treated with a hot acid solution of calcium sulfite. Lignin is sulfonated and hydrolyzed, allowing lignosulfonate molecules to dissolve in the slurry.

• Kraft Pulp (Sulfate) Process: Wood chips are treated with a hot strong alkali solution (pH 13-14) to dissolve lignin. The dissolved product can be modified to obtain various specifications.

6. Applications and Uses

Calcium lignosulfonate is an extremely versatile product used across many industries due to its dispersing, binding, and chelating properties.

1. Construction and Concrete Industry (Water Reducer)

• Function: Used as a water-reducing agent in concrete.

• Mechanism: The hydrophobic groups adsorb onto cement particles, giving them a negative charge. The charged particles repel each other, breaking up flocculated structures and releasing free water. This allows for reduced water content without compromising workability.

• Benefits:

  • Reduces water consumption by 8-12% with a typical dosage of 0.25% (by cement weight).

  • Improves concrete workability and flowability.

  • Can save 8-10% of cement while maintaining strength.

  • Has micro-air entraining properties, improving freeze-thaw resistance.

  • Non-corrosive to reinforcement steel.

• Applications: Suitable for large volume concrete, high fluidity concrete, pumping concrete, commercial concrete, summer concrete construction, and mass concrete projects.

2. Agriculture and Pesticides

• Pesticide Suspending Agent: Used as a filler and dispersant in water suspensions and suspo-emulsions for pesticides.

• Adjuvant: Helps in the formulation of stable pesticide suspensions.

3. Ceramics Industry

• Body Reinforcing Agent: Improves the strength of ceramic bodies before firing.

• Plasticizer: Used as a ceramic auxiliary and binder.

4. Refractory Materials

• Binder: Used as a binder in refractory materials and as a plasticizer.

5. Coal Industry

• Coal Water Slurry Dispersant: Helps in dispersing coal particles in water-based coal slurries.

• Additive: Improves the fluidity and stability of coal-water mixtures.

6. Leather Industry

• Tanning Agent: Used in leather tanning processes.

7. Carbon Black Industry

• Granulating Agent: Used as a binder for granulating carbon black powder.

8. Mining and Mineral Processing

• Ore Binder: Used as a binder for mineral powders and ores.

• Dispersant: Acts as a dispersant in mineral processing.

9. Other Applications

• Printing and Dyeing Auxiliary: Used in textile processing.

• Fertilizer Industry: Additive in compound fertilizers.

• Feed Industry: Used as a feed additive.

• Asphalt Emulsifier: Used in asphalt emulsions for road construction.

• Oil Well Grouting: Used in oil well cementing and dam grouting gels.

• Foundry Industry: Used as a binder in casting molds.

7. Upstream and Downstream Products

Raw Materials (Upstream):

• Sulfite wood pulp waste liquor

• Trisodium phosphate anhydrous

• Sodium hydroxide

• Ammonium nitrate

• Lime milk (calcium hydroxide)

Derived Products (Downstream):

• Vanillin (synthetic flavoring agent)

• Sodium lignosulfonate

• 3-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde

• Ferric chrome lignin sulfonate

• Sulfonated ligno-sulfomethylated phenolic resin copolymer

8. Environmental and Safety Information

9. Key Advantages

1. Renewable Resource: Lignin is the second most abundant natural polymer on Earth, making calcium lignosulfonate a sustainable and renewable biological resource.

2. Multi-functionality: Combines dispersing, binding, and chelating properties in one product.

3. Versatility: Applicable across a wide range of industries from construction to agriculture.

4. Cost-Effective: As a byproduct of the paper industry, it offers an economical solution for many industrial applications.

5. Environmentally Friendly: Non-toxic and derived from natural sources.

10. Summary

Calcium lignosulfonate (CAS: 8061-52-7) is a brown-yellow powder, anionic polymer surfactant derived from lignin, a natural renewable resource. It is produced from sulfite wood pulp waste liquor through neutralization, concentration, and spray drying.

With its unique properties including high dispersibility, cohesiveness, and chelation ability, it serves as a crucial additive in numerous industries. Its primary applications include use as a concrete water-reducing agent in construction, a suspending agent in pesticides, a binder in ceramics and refractories, and a dispersant in coal-water slurries and mineral processing. As a non-toxic, renewable, and versatile product, it represents an important bio-based chemical in the transition towards more sustainable industrial practices.